OTTAWA International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu announced significant progress in trade negotiations between Canada and India following a major trade mission to New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. This mission included nearly 300 representatives from Canadian businesses and exporters, resulting in 34 commercial agreements valued at almost $300 million.
The agreements produced during this trip covered a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, clean technology and energy transitions, information and communications technologies, infrastructure, life sciences, and tourism. Minister Sidhu emphasized the importance of these sectors in strengthening bilateral trade ties.
In addition to the agreements, Sidhu met with Indian Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in both New Delhi and Mumbai to advance the ongoing trade discussions. The two nations aim to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of the year. Since May 2025, the ministers have engaged in dialogue on 10 separate occasions, highlighting the commitment on both sides to facilitate trade growth.
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced the trade negotiations nearly a year ago during the G20 leaders' summit in South Africa. Recent announcements confirmed that Modi will visit Toronto and Ottawa on December 11 and 12, just prior to this year’s G20 summit, which is scheduled to take place in Miami.
The Liberal government in Canada has set ambitious targets, aiming to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade while also aiming to increase two-way trade with India to $70 billion annually by 2030. As of 2025, the trade between the two countries was recorded at $30.4 billion for goods and services.
In a development from May earlier this year, Goyal expressed that Carney's visit to India marked a significant potential shift in the Canada-India relationship, which has faced challenges in the past. Notably, trade talks that began in 2010 were paused in 2023 following a diplomatic crisis, where the Canadian government accused India of involvement in the assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist in Surrey, British Columbia.
After becoming Prime Minister in 2025, Carney prioritized the restoration of Canada-India relations. His visit to India in March was significant as it marked the first by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years and concluded with a meeting with Modi. This visit resulted in a series of agreements, including a $2.6 billion deal whereby Canada agreed to provide India with approximately 22 million pounds of uranium for energy generation and 10 commercial agreements worth over $5.5 billion.
Minister Sidhu remarked on the long-term benefits of the connections established between Canadian companies and India, highlighting sectors such as energy, critical minerals, and aerospace. He reinforced Canada’s position as a reliable partner for India, underscoring the potential for sustainable trade relationships that benefit both nations.
This renewed energy in Canada-India trade relations presents opportunities for Canadian businesses in one of the world's most rapidly growing economies, and initiatives from these discussions could lead to substantial future growth.
