Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada this December, with the visit coinciding with the G20 summit in Miami. This visit aims to bolster efforts to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries by the end of 2026.
Carney made this statement on Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he highlighted the progress of negotiations with India and underscored the importance of the bilateral relationship. The upcoming talks mark the fifth round of negotiations for the CEPA, scheduled to commence on October 5, following the recent completion of the fourth round.
The CEPA is designed to significantly enhance trade and investment between Canada and India, targeting an increase in annual two-way trade to C$70 billion by 2030. In 2025, the trade between the two nations amounted to C$30.4 billion, highlighting the potential for growth under the proposed agreement.
Modi’s anticipated visit will be his first standalone bilateral trip to Canada since 2015, although he attended the G7 summit in Canada in 2025, where he engaged with Carney on strengthening bilateral ties. Recent interactions between the two leaders have focused on expanding cooperation in sectors such as energy, technology, artificial intelligence, and defense.
The renewed focus on economic collaboration follows a period of diplomatic tensions between the two countries. However, high-level meetings and ongoing trade negotiations have paved the way for rebuilding the relationship, with both nations committed to accelerating discussions and enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors.