By: The Obnews Editorial Team
Canada and India began a new round of trade negotiations in Ottawa on Monday, October 5, as both governments pursue an agreement that could reshape their economic relationship. The fifth round of discussions on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA, is scheduled to continue through October 9, with negotiators working toward a shared goal of concluding talks before the end of 2026.
The latest negotiations follow discussions between Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee. According to an October 2 statement from Global Affairs Canada, the ministers reviewed progress ahead of the Ottawa round, with Sidhu emphasizing the importance of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement this year. Their meeting built on discussions held in Mumbai in September.
An expected visit to Canada by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi adds significance to the negotiating timetable. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in September that he anticipated hosting Modi around December and that the countries were aiming to conclude negotiations around the G20 summit. The precise visit date had not been finalized, and a potential signing remains dependent on the outcome of negotiations.
The economic ambitions extend well beyond the current negotiating round. During Carney’s visit to India earlier this year, the two leaders identified a shared aspiration of expanding bilateral trade to C$70 billion by 2030. Global Affairs Canada reports that two-way trade in goods and services reached C$30.4 billion in 2025, including C$13.6 billion in merchandise trade, illustrating the scale of growth the governments hope to support.
The proposed CEPA would address a wide range of commercial barriers. Canada’s published negotiating objectives include improved market access for goods and services, simpler and more predictable customs procedures, investment protections, digital trade and intellectual property rules. The objectives also include exploring measures to facilitate temporary movement of businesspeople, while maintaining the integrity of the domestic labour market. These proposals remain subject to negotiation and do not establish new immigration entitlements.
Sensitive sectors will also shape the eventual agreement. Canada has stated that it intends to preserve its supply-management system for dairy, poultry and eggs without granting additional market access in those sectors. Its objectives also seek to protect the government’s ability to regulate in the public interest, including on health, safety and environmental matters.
Energy and critical minerals are prominent areas of cooperation within the broader relationship. The March leaders’ meeting produced a strategic energy partnership covering areas including liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, uranium, solar energy and hydrogen. The leaders also welcomed a C$2.6 billion agreement involving Saskatchewan-based Cameco to supply uranium for India’s nuclear energy generation, demonstrating that commercial commitments are advancing alongside the trade negotiations.
Business engagement is scheduled to intensify immediately after the Ottawa discussions. Sidhu will lead a Team Canada Trade Mission to India from October 12 to 17, with programming in Mumbai and Bengaluru. The mission’s priority sectors include aerospace and space, clean technologies, information and communications technology, life sciences, forestry and agri-food. Planned activities include business briefings, networking, site visits and meetings between eligible Canadian companies and potential Indian partners.
The current effort follows a lengthy negotiating history. Canada and India originally launched CEPA negotiations in November 2010 under then-prime ministers Stephen Harper and Manmohan Singh. Carney and Modi agreed to launch the renewed negotiating process in November 2025, while their March 2026 joint statement welcomed the signing of terms of reference and reaffirmed the commitment to finish talks by the end of the year.
For Canadian businesses, the practical value of an agreement will depend on the market access, operating rules and implementation timelines ultimately negotiated. Canada’s stated objectives offer a basis for potential opportunities, but the final terms remain unsettled. With the Ottawa round underway and a major business mission approaching, companies will be watching for concrete progress toward the governments’ year-end goal.