CEPA Could Give Fresh Momentum to India-Canada Trade Ties

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has said she looks forward to meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during the UN high-level week and discussing the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada.

“The Canada-India bilateral relationship is growing and the conclusion of the CEPA before the end of the year is key to our overall strategy,” Anand said in a post on X. She added that she looked forward to speaking with Jaishankar during the UN high-level week.

The proposed meeting comes as India and Canada continue efforts to advance bilateral economic and trade ties.

Jaishankar had spoken with Anand last week, with the two ministers discussing bilateral cooperation as well as the situation in Ukraine.

“Good to speak with FM Anita Anand of Canada this evening, on our bilateral cooperation as well as on the Ukraine situation,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Trade negotiations have also continued at the ministerial level. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently held discussions with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu on advancing negotiations for the CEPA.

Sidhu said he had completed the fourth round of trade negotiations with his team in India and stressed the importance of sustained, face-to-face engagement to maintain momentum towards an agreement.

India and Canada recorded two-way trade of $30.8 billion in 2024. Canada has set a target of increasing bilateral