India and Canada Kick Off Fourth Round of CEPA Negotiations: What’s at Stake?

Negotiations for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Begin

On Monday, India and Canada commenced the fourth round of discussions regarding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi, aiming to finalize the agreement within this year, as confirmed by an official source.

The five-day negotiations, scheduled from September 14 to 18, will address various topics, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, and technical trade barriers.

The previous round of talks took place in July in Ottawa, according to the official.

These negotiations hold significant importance as both nations aspire to elevate their bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by the year 2030.

In the fiscal year 2025-26, bilateral trade saw a decline of 8.22%, totaling USD 7.95 billion, down from USD 8.66 billion in 2024-25.

India's exports to Canada primarily consist of pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, seafood, cotton garments, electronic goods, and chemicals.

Conversely, Canada imports pulses, pearls, semi-precious stones, coal, fertilizers, paper, and crude petroleum from India. The telecommunications, computer, and information services sectors are among India's leading service exports.

Additionally, Canada is home to a vibrant Indian community, including over 425,000 Indian students.