India and Canada begin fifth round of trade talks

India and Canada have commenced the fifth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Ottawa. The talks, scheduled from October 5 to 9, aim to strengthen economic ties following recent diplomatic tensions, with both nations working toward finalizing the agreement by the end of the year.

The discussions follow a meeting between India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, during the G20 trade ministers' meeting in Milwaukee. The two countries are identifying opportunities for deep cooperation in sectors including energy, critical minerals, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.

Canada reported that bilateral trade in goods and services reached $30.4 billion in 2025, and the government has set a target to double this figure to $70 billion annually by 2030. Following these negotiations, Minister Sidhu will lead a ‘Team Canada Trade Mission’ to India from October 12 to 17, accompanied by approximately 300 Canadian business representatives.