Canada is confident that negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India will be finalized ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country on December 11-12. Christopher Cooter, Canada’s High Commissioner to India, indicated that while the final legal ratification will require additional time due to the involvement of provincial governments, the completion of the text would represent a major milestone in bilateral relations.
The progress follows a period of tension in the relationship that began in 2023. Cooter described the current state of ties as having moved well beyond a mere reset, noting that the engagement between the two nations has gained significant momentum over the past 18 months. As part of this push to strengthen economic ties, Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu is making his third visit to India within the last three months.
Minister Sidhu is scheduled to arrive in Hyderabad on Thursday before traveling to Visakhapatnam to participate in the CII Partnership Summit 2026. The summit is chaired by India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and hosted by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. According to Canada’s Department of International Trade, the visit is intended to deepen bilateral investment ties and facilitate the conclusion of the CEPA. In addition to the trade pact, officials expect further announcements concerning space cooperation and business travel mobility.
Addressing public concerns regarding international student policies, High Commissioner Cooter clarified that recent caps on student numbers were aimed at addressing fraudulent institutions rather than legitimate applicants. He noted that Canada remains open to Indian students, who represent the largest international group in the country with approximately 300,000 residents, and emphasized that the government is looking toward future frameworks for joint degree programs and institutional presence in India.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Canada on December 11-12.
- The 6th round of trade negotiations for the CEPA is occurring this week.
- Approximately 300,000 Indian students currently reside in Canada.
- Minister Maninder Sidhu is attending the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
- The trade agreement will require legal ratification from both countries' governments after the text is finalized.
Why it matters
The conclusion of the trade negotiations is expected to formalize the economic recovery between the two nations following the cooling of diplomatic ties in 2023. Successful finalization of the CEPA would establish a long-term framework for trade and investment that moves the bilateral relationship into a more stable phase of growth.
Source: Times of India, Hindustan Times
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