India and Canada Advance Trade Pact to Boost Bilateral Trade

India and Canada concluded the third round of negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Ottawa from July 6 to 10, 2026. The five-day talks, led by chief negotiators Brij Mohan Mishra for India and Bruce Christie for Canada, focused on market access for goods, rules of origin, trade in services, and intellectual property. The discussions also addressed cooperation in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, clean technology, and critical minerals, with a goal to include digital trade and sustainable development.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney previously discussed the pact at the G7 Summit in France. Modi expressed interest in visiting Canada this year and urged the completion of the agreement prior to his arrival. Carney described the deal as a game changer for Canadian businesses and workers. The two nations are targeting a bilateral trade volume of $50 billion by 2030, following a recent 8.22% decline in two-way trade during the 2025-26 period.

Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to finalize the pact by the end of 2026. The agreement aligns with Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy and India's efforts to diversify its trade partnerships amid global supply chain shifts. The Department of Commerce of India noted that discussions witnessed positive progress across multiple negotiating tracks.