Canada advances trade talks on comprehensive economic partnership agreement with India

September 21, 2026 - Mumbai, India - Global Affairs Canada

This week, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, met with Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, in Mumbai. The ministers met alongside Canada and India’s chief trade negotiators to discuss opportunities for strengthened trade and investment ties and advance discussions on a Canada-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).

Minister Sidhu thanked Minister Goyal for his continued support and leadership in

advancing the negotiations and reiterated Canada’s commitment to conclude a mutually beneficial CEPA by the end of this year. Minister Sidhu also indicated that he was looking forward to leading a Team Canada Trade Mission to India next month to deepen Canada-India commercial partnerships and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses.

While in Mumbai, the Minister also met with senior business leaders from Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Integrated Health System, JSW Group and CAE to explore opportunities for collaboration in priority sectors, including life sciences, clean technologies and the energy transition and aerospace.

Quotes

“My discussions with Minister Goyal this week are driving real progress toward an agreement that will double our two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030. India's rapid growth and Canada's advantage in energy, critical minerals, aerospace, AI and more mean enormous potential for our businesses and workers. By expanding our trade and investment relationship, we can diversify our exports and unlock new opportunities in one of the world's largest economies.”

- Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade

Quick facts

• Four rounds of negotiations for the CEPA have been completed. Trade officials will continue to engage to maintain progress and narrow gaps with the shared objective of concluding negotiations by the end of 2026.

• Canada is looking to double exports to markets beyond the United States over the next decade, including doubling two-way trade with India to $70 billion annually by 2030.

• In 2025, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India reached $13.6 billion. 

• In 2025, two-way goods and services trade was $30.4 billion.    

• Canadian exports to India totalled $3.9 billion, led by vegetables, mineral fuels and oils, and wood pulp. Merchandise imports from India amounted to $9.7 billion, primarily consisting of precious stones and metals, machinery and pharmaceutical products.

• Service exports, valued at $15.2 billion, remained unchanged in 2025, with education-related travel accounting for the largest share and representing 6.3% of Canada’s total service exports. 

• Service imports from India totalled $4.5 billion, up 3% from 2024, and represented 1.9% of Canada’s total service imports.