India and Canada will begin the fifth round of negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement here on Monday, stepping up efforts to conclude a deal by the end of the year as the two countries work to deepen economic ties following a prolonged diplomatic chill.
The negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will be held from October 5 to 9, according to Global Affairs Canada.
The latest round follows a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee last week. The two ministers reviewed progress in the negotiations and discussed the upcoming Ottawa round.
Sidhu stressed the importance of working towards a mutually beneficial agreement by the end of 2026, Global Affairs Canada said in a readout of the meeting.
The talks come as India and Canada seek to substantially expand bilateral trade and cooperation, with energy, critical minerals, aerospace and artificial intelligence identified as key areas of potential collaboration.
Canada said two-way trade in goods and services with India reached $30.4 billion in 2025. Ottawa has set a target of doubling bilateral trade to $70 billion annually by 2030.
Four rounds of CEPA negotiations have already been completed, with the latest concluding in New Delhi on September 18. Canadian officials have said negotiators are working to maintain momentum and bridge outstanding differences, with the shared objective of concluding the talks before the end of this year.
The fifth round will be followed by another major Canadian commercial push into India, with Sidhu scheduled to lead a Team Canada Trade Mission from October 12 to 17. The mission is expected to bring nearly 300 Canadian delegates representing businesses across key sectors.
Sidhu and Goyal discussed the trade mission during their Milwaukee meeting. Canada said the initiative aims to create new business opportunities and strengthen commercial ties between the two countries.
Sidhu has also highlighted Canada’s potential as a long-term supplier to meet India’s growing requirements for energy, critical minerals and other commodities.
“My discussions with Minister Goyal this week are driving real progress toward an agreement that will double our two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030,” Sidhu said after meeting Goyal in Mumbai last month.
“India’s rapid growth and Canada’s advantage in energy, critical minerals, aerospace, AI and more mean enormous potential for our businesses and workers,” he said.
Canada is also seeking to diversify its international trade and reduce its heavy dependence on the United States. Ottawa has said it aims to double exports to markets outside the US over the next decade, making India’s expanding economy an increasingly important part of its trade diversification strategy.
The trade figures underline the scale of the economic relationship. Bilateral merchandise trade stood at $13.6 billion in 2025, according to Canadian government data.
Canadian merchandise exports to India were valued at $3.9 billion, led by vegetables, mineral fuels and oils, and wood pulp. Imports from India stood at $9.7 billion, with precious stones and metals, machinery and pharmaceuticals among the major categories.
Services account for an even larger share of bilateral trade. Canada’s services exports to India were valued at $15.2 billion in 2025, with education-related travel accounting for the largest component.
(IANS Inputs)
