India and Canada have begun the fifth round of negotiations for their proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Ottawa. The five-day negotiating round will continue until October 9, as both countries work towards concluding the proposed trade agreement by the end of 2026.
The fifth round follows the fourth round of negotiations, which concluded in New Delhi on September 18. Both sides have agreed to accelerate the negotiations and work towards narrowing differences on outstanding issues.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Fifth round of India-Canada CEPA negotiations begins in Ottawa.
Talks are scheduled from October 5 to 9.
Both countries are working towards concluding the CEPA by the end of 2026.
The previous round concluded in New Delhi on September 18.
India and Canada aspire to expand bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030.
Two-way merchandise trade reached CAD 13.6 billion in 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed during their March 2026 meeting in New Delhi to conclude the CEPA negotiations by the end of this year. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas including energy and critical minerals.
Under the joint leaders’ statement issued after the March meeting, India and Canada expressed a shared aspiration to expand bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion (about ₹4.65 lakh crore) by 2030.
According to the latest Canadian government data, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India reached CAD 13.6 billion in 2025, while total two-way trade in goods and services stood at CAD 30.4 billion.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The proposed CEPA is aimed at creating a broader framework for expanding India-Canada trade and investment and strengthening long-term economic cooperation.
