Archive · 21 Sep 2026
India and Canada Push to Conclude Trade Pact
Canada and India are working on a large trade agreement called the CEPA.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said she wants to meet India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar this week.
They are expected to discuss how to finish the agreement.
Officials from both countries have already held several meetings about it.
India and Canada traded $30.8 billion worth of goods and services in 2024.
They want to increase that amount to $70 billion by 2030.
The agreement could make it easier for businesses to trade and invest in each other’s countries.
It could cover areas such as farming, energy, technology, and defence.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said she expects to meet India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar this week.
Anand said concluding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement before year-end is central to the bilateral strategy.
Indian and Canadian officials have held recent discussions on bilateral cooperation, Ukraine, and advancing trade negotiations.
India-Canada two-way trade totaled $30.8 billion in 2024, with a goal of reaching $70 billion by 2030.
The proposed CEPA could expand trade in goods, services, investment, agriculture, energy, critical minerals, technology, aerospace, and defence.
- Who
- Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and trade ministers from India and Canada.
- What
- The countries are working to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and expand bilateral trade.
- When
- Anand said she expected to meet Jaishankar during the United Nations high-level week; officials said they aim to conclude the agreement before the end of the year.
- Where
- During the United Nations high-level week; additional trade discussions were held between Indian and Canadian officials.
- Why
- The agreement is intended to create new opportunities in trade, services, and investment and increase bilateral trade.
- Agreement
- Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
- 2024 bilateral trade
- $30.8 billion
- 2030 trade goal
- $70 billion
- Negotiation status
- Four rounds of trade negotiations have been completed, according to Canada’s Maninder Sidhu.
- Target timeline
- The countries aim to conclude CEPA before the end of the year.
- Potential sectors
- Agriculture and agri-food, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and technology, aerospace, and defence.