Canada and India Fast-Track Trade Pact for 2026 Deadline

Canada and India are accelerating negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the goal of concluding the pact by the end of 2026. Maninder Sidhu, Canada's Minister of International Trade, visited New Delhi and Mumbai from September 18-19 to meet with India's Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and various business leaders.

The discussions focused on trade in goods, services, rules of origin, and technical trade barriers. Both nations are prioritizing collaboration in energy—specifically liquefied natural gas and nuclear energy—and critical minerals. Major Indian conglomerates, including Reliance Industries, Mahindra and Mahindra, and the JSW Group, are currently exploring investments in Canadian critical mineral projects to secure supply chains.

This diplomatic push follows a March meeting in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where the year-end target was established. Canada aims to increase annual two-way trade with India to USD 70 billion by 2030, up from $8.66 billion in 2024-25. Following the India visit, Sidhu is scheduled to travel to Manila on September 21-22 for the Fifteenth ASEAN Economic Ministers-Canada Consultation to advance further free trade agreements in Southeast Asia.

Indian negotiators are expected to visit Canada next month, and leadership may meet again during the G-20 summit in December to finalize the agreement.