Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is expected to return to India in October as both sides seek to resolve remaining issues in the proposed CEPA
India and Canada are accelerating negotiations on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu expected to visit India again in mid-October, shortly after the next round of formal talks.
Sidhu is likely to meet Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal following the fifth round of negotiations, scheduled to be held in Canada from October 5. The talks are aimed at resolving the remaining issues in the agreement before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to Canada in December.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, officials from both countries have made progress on most major areas of the proposed agreement. Some unresolved matters now require political-level discussions between the two governments.
Sidhu’s October visit is also expected to coincide with a large Canadian trade mission travelling to India to explore commercial and investment opportunities. During his recent Mumbai visit, Sidhu met Goyal and held discussions with Indian companies on potential cooperation in areas including aerospace, clean technology, energy transition and life sciences.
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The proposed CEPA negotiations began in March 2026 after India and Canada agreed on the terms of reference
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Four rounds have since been completed, with both sides publicly committing to conclude the agreement by the end of the year
Trade has emerged as an important part of efforts to rebuild bilateral relations. India-Canada trade in goods and services stood at $30.4 billion in 2025, while merchandise trade was valued at $13.6 billion. Canada has set an objective of increasing two-way trade with India to $70 billion annually by 2030.
The negotiations follow a period of strained diplomatic relations, but ties have improved since 2025, with both governments increasing high-level engagement and economic cooperation.
