India And Canada Discuss Expansion Of Trade Cooperation Under CEPA Framework

India and Canada have signalled renewed momentum in long-stalled trade negotiations, with both sides working to revive discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at significantly expanding bilateral economic ties.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government is “working fast” to advance the proposed trade deal with India, describing it as a “game-changer” for Canadian workers and businesses. He made the remarks after meeting Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who is currently visiting Canada as part of a high-level trade delegation.

Carney said the proposed agreement could unlock major opportunities across sectors such as energy, agriculture, technology, and education. He also noted that he had reviewed ongoing progress on negotiations during his meeting with Goyal, adding that both sides are actively exploring new areas of cooperation. The renewed push comes after years of stalled dialogue between the two countries.

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The Indian delegation accompanying Goyal reportedly includes more than 100 senior business representatives from sectors including mining, energy, automotive, and aerospace. Officials described it as one of India’s largest-ever business delegations to Canada, reflecting New Delhi’s renewed focus on expanding economic engagement with Ottawa and attracting investment across strategic industries.

Following his meeting with the Canadian leadership, Goyal said recent high-level exchanges have helped reset the tone of India-Canada relations and created fresh momentum for economic cooperation. He conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted that both sides are now working toward tripling bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.

Trade talks between India and Canada have faced repeated interruptions since they began in 2010, with negotiations most recently stalled in 2023 following diplomatic tensions between the two countries. However, both governments now appear to be re-engaging through structured discussions, business-to-business interactions, and ministerial-level meetings aimed at rebuilding economic trust and advancing a comprehensive trade framework.

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