Overview
- Canada’s trade minister Maninder Sidhu met India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday and both ministers publicly reaffirmed a shared commitment to conclude a balanced, mutually beneficial CEPA.
- Negotiators are due to meet in Ottawa next week to work through remaining technical differences with the possibility of another session before the end of November if needed.
- The talks have completed five to six rounds and cover 16 detailed policy areas, including market access for goods, services, rules of origin, trade remedies, customs and dispute settlement.
- The deal is driven by economics and strategy: bilateral goods trade fell to USD 7.95 billion in 2025–26 while India’s exports to Canada rose and Canadian imports fell, and Canada is seeking to diversify trade away from heavy U.S. dependence.
- Sidhu’s repeated visits and his participation in the CII Partnership Summit reflect political priority on both sides and set up a December announcement that would speed market access and investment opportunities for businesses in both countries.