India and Canada are intensifying negotiations on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu prepares to visit New Delhi in mid-October. This visit is timed to follow the fifth round of CEPA negotiations, scheduled to occur in Canada from October 5, and will likely include discussions with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. A Canadian trade delegation will also travel to India to explore potential business and investment opportunities.
Officials from both nations have reportedly made progress on several critical issues, though some matters are expected to require attention at the ministerial level. Both countries are eager to finalize the agreement promptly. The CEPA talks, initially launched in March 2026, have already seen four rounds of discussions, with the most recent taking place in New Delhi from September 14 to 18.
The proposed CEPA aims to boost bilateral trade and investment between India and Canada. In 2025, the two countries saw a combined trade in goods and services amounting to $30.4 billion. Both governments have set an ambitious goal to increase their bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030.
These trade negotiations are part of broader efforts to strengthen economic ties between India and Canada. The countries are also exploring potential cooperation in various sectors, including energy, clean technology, life sciences, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.