-Piyush Goyal to Lead High-Level Delegation to Ottawa in New Year
New Delhi, 4 December (H.S.): India and Canada have held preliminary discussions on the framework, objectives, and modalities to restart negotiations on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aimed at boosting bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu held talks on Wednesday to outline the structure for reviving the long-delayed trade pact. Both sides have recently agreed to resume dialogue on the comprehensive deal after a year-long suspension.
In a post shared on X, Minister Goyal said he had a “good discussion” with his Canadian counterpart on enhancing India-Canada trade and commercial engagement. He noted that the talks focused on a “broad approach, framework, macro objectives, and modalities” as part of the preparations to launch formal CEPA negotiations.
Goyal further announced that both nations have agreed to a high-level trade and investment delegation visit to Canada early next year, which he will lead. The move is seen as an important step in rebuilding economic confidence and strengthening commercial ties between the two countries.
Notably, Canada had suspended trade talks with India in 2023 after bilateral relations deteriorated sharply following allegations by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting a possible Indian link to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The renewed dialogue marks a potential thaw in previously strained diplomatic relations.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
