India and Canada Fast-Track Trade Pact to Boost Trade
India and Canada are accelerating negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to increase bilateral trade to $70 billion over the next five years.
The Government of India and the Government of Canada are fast-tracking negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the goal of concluding the deal by the end of 2026. During the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting, Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Indian Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced a target to scale bilateral trade from $30 billion to $70 billion within five years.
The two nations will begin the fifth round of negotiations on October 5 in Ottawa. This renewed momentum follows a relaunch of the process in March 2026 during Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India, ending a pause in talks that began in August 2023. The agreement focuses on energy, aerospace, and supply chain diversification, specifically regarding critical minerals for electric vehicle batteries.
Minister Sidhu highlighted that Canada is the only country in the Western Hemisphere possessing every element required for electro-paddock production, offering a strategic advantage for India's growing automotive sector. Canada currently maintains over $100 billion in investments in India, primarily within infrastructure. Minister Goyal noted that the next 90 days will be a defining period for the bilateral relationship as the countries work toward a long-term goal of $50 billion in trade by 2030.
