Politics · India Bureau
India-Canada trade pact negotiations may wrap up by December
Canada's International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu has expressed optimism that ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership with India could be concluded by the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Canada next month.
LSN India ·
Sidhu, who is in India attending the CII Partnership Summit, said the sixth round of negotiations between the two countries is progressing well. "We're negotiating right now with India. I'm here for Round Six between our chief negotiators, and we're going to hopefully get there by the time Prime Minister Modi Ji visits Canada next month," he said at the summit.
The two nations are working towards finalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that would deepen bilateral trade and investment ties. Sidhu held separate discussions on the pact with India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during his visit.
Describing the relationship as one rooted in complementarity rather than competition, Sidhu highlighted the alignment of both economies' interests. The accelerated pace of negotiations reflects both governments' commitment to reaching a conclusion within the year, signalling their intent to ink the agreement during Modi's forthcoming Canada visit.