Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu says Ottawa looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December. The visit comes as India and Canada intensify trade negotiations, aiming to conclude their long-pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026.
Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu said in Mumbai yesterday that Ottawa looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Canada in December. Sidhu, who is on his fifth trip to India since taking office made the remarks while leading a Team Canada Trade Mission of about 300 delegates. His aim is to strengthen India-Canada trade ties, and the visit comes as both countries push to finish a long pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026.
Sidhu said sustained engagement is central to the renewed partnership. He recalled visiting Mumbai in early March with Prime Minister Mark Carney to sign commercial contracts. Ministerial exchanges have also picked up. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal brought India's largest delegation to Canada in May, and Canada's energy. AI and foreign ministers have all visited India. Foreign Minister Anita Anand arrived this week to advance cooperation in trade, energy and people-to-people ties.
Sidhu pointed to shared challenges including disruptions to global supply chains and the impact of events around the Strait of Hormuz on energy prices. He mentioned
This is now my fifth trip to India since I became Trade Minister. Prime Minister Carney and I were here in early March, in fact, here in Mumbai, visiting and signing commercial contracts. We're looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Canada in December. So, part of that is constant engagement, but not only that; it's ministers.
Read more about the upcoming visit here.
India and Canada have discussed a trade pact for over a decade. Talks were paused in 2023 amid strained relations and revived in 2025. Goyal and Sidhu signed the Terms of Reference on March 2, 2026, during Carney's India visit. Both sides aim to conclude talks by the end of 2026.
India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the fifth round of negotiations took place recently in Ottawa. He added that both sides remain in touch to conclude a mutually beneficial agreement. Sidhu also held talks with Goyal to discuss how to move the negotiations forward.
Modi and Carney have discussed expanding cooperation in trade, defence and security, artificial intelligence, energy and people-to-people exchanges. They reaffirmed their goal of doubling bilateral trade by 2030. The Team Canada mission is exploring opportunities in aerospace, clean energy, technology, life sciences, agri-food and forestry.
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