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India and Canada Set Stage for CEPA Talks After Ministers Complete Scoping Call

The step reflects a diplomatic reset following the 2023 rupture over the Nijjar case.

Overview

  • India’s Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Maninder Sidhu held a virtual meeting to discuss the approach, objectives and modalities needed to prepare the launch of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations.
  • Piyush Goyal said he will lead a high‑level trade and investment delegation to Canada in the new year to advance the process.
  • Maninder Sidhu said the meeting focused on preparations to begin negotiations on a new CEPA, signaling a formal restart of trade engagement after a pause.
  • Talks were halted in 2023 after then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a potential Indian link to Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, a dispute that severely strained ties.
  • Officials and reports have pointed to an ambition to lift two‑way trade toward USD 50 billion by 2030, from an estimated USD 23.66 billion in goods and services in 2024.