India and Canada are intensifying their efforts to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as both nations aim to enhance bilateral trade and investment. This development comes ahead of Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu’s anticipated visit to New Delhi in mid-October. Sidhu’s visit is expected to follow the fifth round of CEPA negotiations, scheduled to take place in Canada starting October 5.
During his visit, Sidhu is set to meet with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to address the remaining issues in the agreement that require ministerial-level discussions. The timing of the visit also coincides with a Canadian trade delegation’s trip to India, which aims to explore new business and investment opportunities in the region.
India and Canada first launched CEPA negotiations in March 2006, with the goal of expanding their economic partnership. The two countries have already held four rounds of talks, the most recent of which took place in New Delhi from September 14 to 18. Progress has been made on several key issues, but some matters still need resolution through high-level discussions.
The proposed agreement seeks to significantly increase the existing trade volume between India and Canada, which amounted to $30.4 billion in goods and services in 2025. Both governments are targeting to boost bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030. This initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen economic ties, with potential cooperation in sectors such as energy, clean technology, life sciences, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
The renewed trade discussions signal a commitment from both nations to deepen economic relations and capitalize on mutual business interests. As negotiations progress, the outcome of Sidhu’s visit and subsequent discussions will be crucial in determining the path forward for the CEPA and the future economic partnership between India and Canada.