Canada, India advance trade talks ahead of new economic partnership negotiations

International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu spoke with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss strengthening commercial ties and advancing bilateral trade priorities.

"We discussed preparations to launching negotiations on a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)," Sidhu wrote on X.

I look forward to welcoming Minister Goyal and his trade and investment delegation in the new year."

The conversation built on discussions held during the Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment in India in November.

The ministers also reviewed preparations for the upcoming negotiations, first announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa last month.

According to the federal government, Sidhu expressed his expectation to welcome Goyal to Canada in the new year for continued talks.

Last month, Australia along with India and Canada, officially launched the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership (ACITI) during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The initiative aims to expand collaboration in critical minerals, clean energy and artificial intelligence, with the goal of strengthening supply chains and accelerating innovation.