India and Canada Begin Fourth Round of Trade Talks

The Government of India and the Government of Canada began the fourth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi on September 14, 2026. The five-day talks, scheduled to conclude on September 18, address trade in goods and services, investment protection, and dispute resolution. Both nations aim to finalize the pact by the end of 2026 to reverse a trade decline, which saw bilateral trade fall 8.22% to $7.95 billion in 2025-26.

While some reports indicate a target of $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, other sources suggest a goal of $60 billion, with some officials aiming for as high as CAD 70 billion. This economic push follows a business roundtable in Toronto where Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advocated for deeper financial-sector cooperation and long-term investment partnerships.

Parallel to trade talks, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand held discussions on September 14 regarding bilateral cooperation and the situation in Ukraine. These talks build on the annual Foreign Office Consultations held on September 2 at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, where delegations reviewed institutional mechanisms in security, energy, and education.