Canada and India Advance Trade Agreement Negotiations

Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, is scheduled to visit India this week to reinforce trade relations ahead of crucial negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). This marks Sidhu's third visit to India in three months, coinciding with vital talks to advance the CEPA, which aims to deepen economic ties between the two nations.

Sidhu's visit will include participation in the CII Partnership Summit 2026 in Visakhapatnam, hosted by India's Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal. The summit will also be chaired by N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The Canadian Trade Minister aims to strengthen bilateral trade and investment connections while continuing discussions to complete the ambitious CEPA, as confirmed by his department via a post on the social media platform X.

This latest round of negotiations comes after Sidhu's previous trips to India, where he engaged in meetings with Goyal in October. The two have consistently focused on propelling negotiations forward during these discussions. Sidhu's initial visit to India took place last November, which also included participation in the CII Partnership Summit.

The current negotiations for the CEPA are reportedly nearing completion, following five rounds of talks. Negotiators from both countries are set to convene in Ottawa next week, with the possibility of an additional meeting prior to the end of November should unresolved issues remain. The commencement of talks related to a potential free trade agreement was first announced by the Prime Ministers of Canada and India, Narendra Modi and Mark Carney, during their meeting at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg last year. The formal launch of these negotiations occurred when Carney visited New Delhi in March, where he held discussions with Modi.

Expectedly, the successful culmination of these negotiations will be highlighted during Prime Minister Modi’s forthcoming visit to Canada in December. This venture underlines Canada's commitment to diversifying its economic partnerships, notably as it looks to reduce dependence on the United States. As articulated by various analysts, concluding the deal with India remains a key priority for the Canadian government.

The Canadian High Commissioner to India expressed confidence in reaching a trade agreement before Modi's trip, asserting that both governments are committed to overcoming any outstanding issues. The ongoing negotiations and forthcoming engagements signify a significant step forward in enhancing bilateral relations between Canada and India, built on shared economic objectives.