Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that trade negotiations between Canada and India are making good progress, with both countries aiming to complete their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026. The two sides are also working toward concluding the talks around the time of the G20 summit in Miami in December.
Carney said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada around the time of the G20 summit, although the exact timing has not yet been finalized. The G20 summit is scheduled to take place in Miami on December 14 and 15.
The latest developments follow the fourth round of India-Canada trade negotiations, which concluded in New Delhi on September 19. Canadian and Indian officials have said they want to maintain the momentum and narrow the remaining differences in the negotiations. The next round of discussions is scheduled to begin on October 5.
The CEPA negotiations were formally launched in March 2026, when India and Canada signed the terms of reference for the agreement. Both governments set an initial target of completing the negotiations by the end of 2026.
Canada is also seeking to expand trade with countries outside the United States. The Canadian government says it wants to double its exports to markets beyond the US over the next decade. It has also set a goal of doubling two-way trade with India to about C$70 billion annually by 2030.
Trade and investment discussions between the two countries cover several areas, including energy, critical minerals, technology, agriculture and services. Canada is also looking for greater Indian investment and cooperation in sectors such as clean energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
The renewed economic engagement follows a period of diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. Relations deteriorated after the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were allegations of possible links to Indian government agents, while India rejected the allegation and called for evidence. The issue had a major impact on bilateral relations.
Carney has since taken steps to rebuild the relationship. His visit to India from February 27 to March 2, 2026, was the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to India since 2018. During that visit, Carney and Modi agreed to accelerate work on the CEPA and strengthen cooperation in areas including energy, technology, critical minerals and trade.
The two leaders have also continued their engagement. They met again on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in June and reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation and supply-chain partnerships.
With another round of negotiations approaching, India and Canada are now focused on resolving the remaining issues and completing the trade agreement by the end of the year. A successful agreement could provide a framework for expanding trade and investment between the two countries.