Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Canada and India Advance Fourth Round of CEPA Trade Talks
Canada and India are negotiating a large trade agreement called the CEPA.
The fourth round of talks is now taking place.
Canada wants the deal finished by the end of the year.
The agreement is meant to help both countries sell more products and services to each other.
Their goal is to increase trade to C$70 billion by 2030.
The discussions include clean energy, critical minerals, digital services, agriculture and investment.
Canada wants lower tariffs and easier travel for businesspeople.
However, Canada says its dairy, poultry and egg markets will remain closed to Canadian trade negotiations.
The two countries are also working with companies to create more business partnerships.
Canada is seeking to complete a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India by year-end.
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is visiting Mumbai for talks with Piyush Goyal and business leaders.
The agreement aims to double bilateral trade to C$70 billion by 2030, covering goods, services, investment and digital trade.
Canada wants improved market access, lower tariffs and easier business travel, but excludes its dairy, poultry and egg sectors.
Two-way Canada-India trade in goods and services reached C$30.4 billion in 2025, according to Global Affairs Canada.
- Who
- Canada and India, including International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
- What
- They are conducting the fourth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
- When
- The current fourth round is underway; negotiations formally began in November 2025, with a year-end completion target.
- Where
- The current talks and Sidhu’s meetings are taking place in Mumbai, India.
- Why
- The countries want to deepen commercial ties and raise bilateral trade to C$70 billion by 2030.
Canadian negotiating priorities
Canadian market protections
Market access
Canadian negotiating priorities
Canada is seeking lower tariffs, fewer tariff and non-tariff barriers, and improved access for its exporters to India.
Canadian market protections
Canada has stated that its dairy, poultry and egg sectors will not be opened as part of the talks.
Scope of the agreement
Canadian negotiating priorities
The proposed CEPA would expand cooperation in goods, services, investment, agriculture, digital trade, mobility and sustainable development.
Canadian market protections
The negotiations must address sensitive areas including agriculture, market access, government procurement, intellectual property and state-owned enterprises.
- Agreement
- Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA
- Trade target
- Double bilateral trade to C$70 billion by 2030
- 2025 two-way trade
- C$30.4 billion in goods and services, according to Global Affairs Canada
- 2025 merchandise trade
- C$13.6 billion, according to Global Affairs Canada
- Indian government trade data
- 2025-26 merchandise trade totaled US$7.95 billion; Indian exports were US$4.67 billion and imports were US$3.28 billion
- Key sectors
- Clean energy, critical minerals, digital services, advanced manufacturing and skills development
- Canadian market restrictions
- Canada has ruled out access for its dairy, poultry and egg sectors