India and Canada open fifth round of CEPA trade talks in Ottawa

India and Canada open the fifth round of negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Ottawa today, with both sides aiming to conclude the trade pact by the end of 2026 (The Economic Times; The Tribune).

The five-day round, led by the chief negotiators of both countries, is scheduled to run until October 9, following the fourth round held in New Delhi which concluded on September 18 (NDTV Profit; PTI via reporterworldnews).

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has confirmed October 5 as the start date and said both sides have agreed to fast-track the negotiations (The Economic Times). Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, who met Goyal in Mumbai last month to review progress, is scheduled to visit New Delhi later this month with a 300-strong business delegation.

The renewed push follows the March 2 joint statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, which set a target of doubling two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030 and committed to concluding CEPA negotiations by the end of 2026; two-way trade reached $30.4 billion in 2025 (The Economic Times; CNBC TV18).

The talks had been suspended in 2023 after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a possible Indian link to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar — a claim India rejected as “preposterous” (The Tribune). Canadian Prime Minister Carney has said Modi is expected to visit Canada around December.