India and Canada Advance Trade Pact Ahead of December Summit
Canada's Minister of International Trade visited India to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.
Canada and India are entering the final stages of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to reduce customs duties, ease the movement of skilled professionals, and attract investment. Maninder Sidhu, Canada's Minister of International Trade, visited India on November 11, 2026, meeting with India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss reducing trade barriers and improving market access.
The two nations aim to conclude the pact by the end of 2026, with a formal announcement expected during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada on December 11-12. This follows five rounds of talks, with a sixth round scheduled for the current week. The agreement is part of a broader diplomatic recovery over the last 18 months under Prime Ministers Modi and Mark Carney, who initiated the process during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.
High Commissioner Christopher Cooter expressed confidence that the final text will be ready before the December summit, though he noted that formal ratification involving Canadian provincial governments will take additional time. Beyond the trade deal, the upcoming summit is expected to include agreements on space cooperation and business travel. The partnership seeks to grow bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, a significant increase from the $7.95 billion recorded in FY26.
