Mumbai/New Delhi: Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu said the fourth round of trade negotiations between Canada and India has concluded, with both sides continuing discussions towards a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
In a post on X, Sidhu said the negotiations require sustained, face-to-face engagement and that he looks forward to meeting Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal again in the coming weeks as both sides work to maintain momentum towards the agreement.
The fourth round of CEPA negotiations was held in India this week. The two countries have reaffirmed their objective of expediting the negotiations and concluding the proposed agreement by the end of 2026. The next round of talks is scheduled to begin on October 5. (Devdiscourse)
According to Sidhu, Canada-India two-way trade stood at $30.8 billion in 2024, and Canada has set a goal of increasing bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030. Canadian government data puts two-way trade in goods and services at $30.4 billion in 2025. (Canada)
The proposed CEPA is expected to cover a broad range of economic areas, including agriculture and agri-food, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and technology, aerospace and defence. Both countries see the agreement as a potential platform for expanding trade and investment opportunities.
The latest round reflects renewed efforts by India and Canada to deepen their commercial engagement. The two sides have previously identified sectors such as aerospace, agri-food, energy and technology as areas with significant potential for greater cooperation. (Canada)
If concluded, the CEPA would seek to expand market access and strengthen trade and investment flows between the two economies, while creating additional opportunities for businesses and industries in both countries.