Canada-India Trade Talks Aim for Year-End CEPA Deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand met in New Delhi to push forward the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that both governments hope to seal before the end of the calendar year. The discussion, attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, covered trade, energy, technology, finance and security, and set the stage for Modi’s scheduled visit to Canada in December, when the agreement is expected to be signed.

Telegraph IndiaIndia Canada trade deal likely to be concluded by end of the year, says Canadian minister Anita Anand Foreign Minister of Canada calls on PM

Bilateral relations have been rebuilding after the 2023 diplomatic dispute sparked by the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. The “reset” announced in 2022 has since produced a series of high-level engagements, including a March 2026 visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and ministerial dialogues aimed at deepening cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

Telegraph India

• Oct 5-9, 2026: Fifth round of CEPA talks in Ottawa.

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• Oct 12-17, 2026: Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu led a delegation of roughly 300 business representatives to India.

India Canada trade deal likely to be concluded by end of the year, says Canadian minister Anita Anand

• Oct 13-16, 2026: Foreign Minister Anita Anand visited India to advance trade, energy, security and defence priorities.

Telegraph India

• Dec 2026 (planned): Modi’s visit to Canada, expected to culminate in the signing of CEPA.

India Canada trade deal likely to be concluded by end of the year, says Canadian minister Anita Anand

• Canadian government data show bilateral trade in goods and services amounted to C$30.4 billion in the most recent year.

India Canada trade deal likely to be concluded by end of the year, says Canadian minister Anita Anand

• Goods-only trade was $10.9 billion, with Canadian exports of vegetables, mineral fuels, oils and wood pulp, and imports of precious stones, machinery and pharmaceuticals.

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Canadian officials emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership. Sidhu highlighted the “momentum” driving the talks and said deeper economic ties would support both nations’ resilience amid global uncertainty. Anand framed the relationship as essential to Canada’s “national resilience and sovereignty,” arguing that diversification away from reliance on any single country is a core policy goal. Jaishankar described the engagement as an opportunity to shape a “free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific” and praised progress since the 2022 reset. Modi reiterated his commitment to translating the “positive momentum” into tangible outcomes, including the early conclusion of CEPA.

Telegraph India

• “The business community wants to see this happen,” — Maninder Sidhu, international trade minister

Bloomberg

• “It is really about our national resilience and our sovereignty,” — E. Ms. Anita Anand, foreign minister

India Canada trade deal likely to be concluded by end of the year, says Canadian minister Anita Anand

Negotiators aim to finalize the CEPA text before the year-end deadline, with the December visit by Modi slated to provide the political endorsement needed for signing. Ongoing discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in critical minerals, nuclear energy, aerospace and clean-technology sectors, as well as securing investment protections and regulatory clarity for businesses on both sides. The outcome will determine whether bilateral trade can reach the C$70 billion target and how quickly the partnership can diversify supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region.

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