As of 19 October 2026, Indian garment exports to New Zealand remain subject to the standard 10% customs tariff because the bilateral trade agreement is not yet in force. Although press reports on 18 October 2026 confirmed that India has notified initial tariff concessions, New Zealand will eliminate tariffs on Indian goods from 20 October 2026 when the agreement enters into force. Importers must continue clearing consignments under standard tariff and goods and services tax rules until that entry-into-force date arrives.
Reported announcements and bilateral agreement status
On 18 October 2026, it was reported by The Tribune that India announced initial duty concessions for the New Zealand trade agreement, starting 20 October. On the same date, 18 October 2026, it was reported by A2Z Taxcorp LLP that the Indian government notified its first tranche of customs duty concessions, preferential tariffs, tariff rate quotas, and import conditions effective 20 October 2026. These administrative notifications followed earlier developments reported on 17 October 2026, when The Hindu reported that the first export consignment under the trade agreement was flagged off. Also on 17 October 2026, TaxCorp AI reported that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs notified the first phase of duty concessions for imports from New Zealand, while Livemint and The Economic Times reported initial tariff concessions on agricultural items such as sheep meat, wine, honey, and kiwi fruit effective 20 October.
For apparel importers, these reported announcements reflect domestic implementation in India rather than an immediate change at the New Zealand border. The New Zealand–India trade agreement was signed on 27 April 2026 and ratified by both sides. The stage of the agreement is ratifying, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that entry into force is set for 20 October 2026. Until 20 October 2026 arrives, the agreement is signed and ratified but not yet in force. Importers cannot claim preferential tariff treatment on consignments cleared prior to the formal entry-into-force date.
Current garment duty rates and upcoming zero-tariff terms
Garments imported into New Zealand from India currently incur a standard duty rate of 10%. This standard rate applies across all major apparel categories, including woven and knitted women’s dresses, kaftans, skirts, stoles, tops, and blouses made from fibres such as cotton, viscose, rayon, polyester, silk, and linen. Under normal border procedures, New Zealand Customs applies this 10% tariff regardless of whether goods arrive by air freight or sea freight.
Under the New Zealand–India free trade agreement, tariff treatment changes completely. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade states that tariffs will be removed on Indian goods imported into New Zealand from the day the agreement enters into force, 20 October 2026. From 20 October 2026, the duty rate on Indian garments falls from 10% to 0%. However, this preferential rate does not apply automatically without documentation. To benefit from the 0% rate, goods need proof of Indian origin under the agreement’s rules of origin. Importers must claim the agreement rate on the import entry with proof of Indian origin, and should confirm the exact origin document with their customs broker before shipping. If an importer is unsure whether documentation meets the rules of origin criteria, check with your customs broker.
| Garment Category | Fibre and Construction | Standard Duty Rate | Agreement Rate from 20 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dresses | Cotton, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Dresses | Viscose / rayon, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Dresses | Polyester, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Dresses | Silk, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Dresses | Linen, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Dresses | Cotton, knitted | 10% | 0% |
| Dresses | Viscose / rayon, knitted | 10% | 0% |
| Dresses | Polyester, knitted | 10% | 0% |
| Kaftans | Cotton, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Kaftans | Cotton, woven — loose robe/cover-up cut | 10% | 0% |
| Kaftans | Viscose or polyester, woven — loose robe/cover-up cut | 10% | 0% |
| Kaftans | Silk or linen, woven — loose robe/cover-up cut | 10% | 0% |
| Skirts | Cotton, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Skirts | Viscose / rayon, knitted | 10% | 0% |
| Scarves and stoles | Cotton, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Scarves and stoles | Silk, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Scarves and stoles | Wool, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Tops and blouses | Cotton, woven | 10% | 0% |
| Tops and blouses | Viscose / rayon, knitted | 10% | 0% |
Import goods and services tax, valuation, and border collection
Tariff concessions under the trade agreement remove customs duty, but they do not eliminate import goods and services tax. New Zealand charges import GST at a rate of 15%. This 15% GST is calculated on the customs valuation, which comprises the price paid for the goods plus international freight, postage, and insurance, plus import duty. When customs duty falls to 0% from 20 October 2026, the duty component of this calculation becomes zero, which in turn reduces the total taxable value on which the 15% GST is charged.
New Zealand Customs collects customs duty, levies, and GST only when the consignment exceeds NZ$1,000. For consignments valued at or below NZ$1,000, customs does not collect these charges (excluding consignments of alcohol and tobacco). For shipments above the NZ$1,000 threshold, import GST remains payable at clearance. A business registered for GST in New Zealand claims import GST as input tax on its domestic GST return, supported by the official Customs import entry or statement. In addition, approved importers may defer import GST payments under New Zealand Customs arrangements; importers wishing to set up or verify deferral should check with your customs broker.
Check your own garment
Review duty rates, calculations, and border rules for specific garment shipments using our tariff tools:
We manufacture women’s dresses, kaftans, skirts and scarves for international brands, so please Talk to us to plan your production and import shipments.
Sources
Indicative information from official sources, written 19 October 2026. Rates verified on against the official tariffs. It is not a customs ruling; confirm with your customs broker before you rely on it.
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