India, New Zealand Sign MoC on Electronic Origin Data Exchange

India and New Zealand have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on the electronic exchange of origin data for trade in goods, a step meant to make the two countries' new trade agreement easier to use. The Ministry of Finance announced the arrangement on 21 October 2026.

Who signed, and when

The agreement is between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on the Indian side and the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS). It was signed on 19 October 2026 by Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman of the CBIC, and Christine Stevenson, Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service.

Signed under the new FTA

The MoC was concluded under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which came into force on 20 October 2026, a day after the customs arrangement was signed. The agreement between the two customs administrations is therefore among the first implementing measures of the FTA.

What electronic origin data does

A certificate of origin is the document that proves where goods were made, and it decides whether a consignment qualifies for the lower duties promised under a trade agreement. Verifying such paperwork by hand is slow and leaves room for doubt. Under the new arrangement the two customs services will exchange origin data electronically and in advance, which is expected to improve operational efficiency, close information gaps and give exporters and importers greater certainty about their consignments.

Why it matters

The stated purpose is to help traders actually use the tariff preferences negotiated in the FTA, so that the benefits reach eligible businesses in both countries faster and with less uncertainty. Officials described the step as deepening customs cooperation and supporting the effective implementation of trade facilitation measures, and as aligning the two sides with international practice on digitalisation and information exchange in cross-border trade.

For the exam

Three details carry the story: the pair of agencies that signed, the date the India-New Zealand FTA entered into force, and the subject of the memorandum, which is origin data and not tariffs themselves. The CBIC works under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance and administers customs and indirect taxes in India.