CEPA negotiations enter fourth round in Delhi, aim for year‑end signing

New Delhi, 18 September – The fourth round of negotiations on the India‑Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) kicked off in the Indian capital, with both sides expressing confidence that the pact can be sealed before the end of 2024. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu jointly affirmed their governments’ determination to expedite discussions.

Key topics under review include trade in goods and services, rules of origin, and the removal of technical barriers that have hindered market access. The five‑day session follows a July meeting in Ottawa that concluded the third round of talks.

The two leaders, Narendra Modi and Justin Trudeau, previously set an ambitious timeline during a March meeting in Delhi, agreeing to finalise the CEPA by year‑end and to deepen collaboration on energy and critical minerals.

According to the latest fiscal data, bilateral merchandise trade for 2024‑25 stood at $8.66 billion, while Canada’s exports to India reached $4.22 billion. India’s major export items to Canada include pharmaceuticals, machinery parts, steel products, electronics, chemicals, jewellery, textiles, seafood, engineering goods and auto components. Canada’s primary exports to India consist of pulses, fertilizers, mineral fuels, wood pulp, gemstones, aircraft parts, machinery components and metal scrap.

India’s information‑technology services remain the leading contributor to Canada’s service imports. Stakeholders expect that the implementation of CEPA will catalyse further growth in trade, investment, and broader economic engagement between the two partners.