India and Canada begin the fifth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Ottawa, with talks scheduled for early October and aimed at concluding the deal by year-end. Outlets report that the negotiations build on recent engagement between the two governments, including trade minister-level discussions following visits connected to the G20 process.
The agenda focuses on deepening bilateral trade and cooperation in areas including energy and critical minerals. Coverage also highlights sector-specific talks that may include aerospace and artificial intelligence, alongside broader efforts to improve trade flows despite recent strains and a decline in goods trade.
Several reports link the negotiation timeline to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated visit to Canada in mid-December (with dates described as tentative). Both sides express an intention to use the visit period as a window to advance or sign the CEPA, while setting longer-term goals for increasing bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030.
