India, Canada aim to seal comprehensive trade pact by year-end

India and Canada are targeting the completion of their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of the year, according to high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystja Freeland. The two nations are keen to broaden their economic footprint across multiple sectors as part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties in the Indo-Pacific region.

The bilateral talks focused on deepening trade and investment linkages in strategic areas including renewable energy, information technology, higher education and defence cooperation. Both countries view expanded economic engagement as instrumental in consolidating their partnership at a time of growing geopolitical realignments in the Asia-Pacific.

Canada's planned trade mission to India is being positioned as a concrete step toward materialising these ambitions. Such delegations typically facilitate direct engagement between business communities and government officials, helping identify specific opportunities for collaboration and removing barriers to commerce.

The CEPA negotiations have been ongoing for several years, with both nations recognising the potential for substantially increased bilateral trade. Completing the agreement would establish a comprehensive framework governing tariffs, services, investment protections and regulatory cooperation between the two economies.