Shimla, April 28 -- The recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand has sparked concern among apple growers in the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, with apprehensions that the deal could adversely impact domestic producers and the fragile hill economy.

Under the agreement, signed on April 27, 2026, India has agreed to reduce the basic customs duty on apple imports from New Zealand from 50 per cent to 25 per cent within a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) framework.

The quota has been fixed at 32,500 metric tonnes in the first year and is set to increase gradually to 45,000 metric tonnes by the sixth year. Imports will be permitted during the April to August period, with a minimu...