PM Modi to Visit Canada in December as Nations Push for Landmark Trade Deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to pay an official visit to Canada this December, a development announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday. The upcoming visit signals a significant strengthening of bilateral ties, as both nations work toward finalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the close of the year.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Carney underscored the multifaceted importance of the relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa. He highlighted that the bond between the two countries transcends mere economics, encompassing deep-rooted people-to-people connections and shared security interests. “It is an exceptionally important relationship on many levels,” Carney remarked, adding that he eagerly anticipates hosting the Indian Prime Minister.

Accelerating Economic Cooperation

The momentum for this diplomatic outreach follows high-level discussions held in Mumbai this week between Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, and India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal. The two ministers, accompanied by their respective chief trade negotiators, focused on accelerating the CEPA negotiations.

Minister Sidhu expressed his commitment to concluding a mutually beneficial agreement before 2027. He emphasized that the collaboration is driven by a clear objective: to double the two-way trade volume between the two nations to $70 billion by 2030. According to Sidhu, India’s rapid economic expansion, coupled with Canada’s strengths in sectors such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy, creates a strategic synergy that stands to benefit both workers and businesses in both nations.

A Diplomatic Reset

This renewed focus on trade marks a pivotal shift in the bilateral landscape. Following a period of strained relations during the administration of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the dialogue between the two nations has regained steady footing. Trade negotiations, which were effectively rebooted in 2025, have since moved forward with a sense of urgency. Prime Minister Carney’s earlier visit to New Delhi to meet with PM Modi served as a foundational step in mending and stabilizing these diplomatic channels.

Trade at a Glance

The push to finalize the CEPA comes as both countries seek to diversify their economic portfolios. As of 2025, the total value of two-way trade in goods and services between India and Canada reached $30.4 billion.

Current trade data highlights a diverse exchange of commodities. Canadian exports to India are largely dominated by mineral fuels, vegetable products, and wood pulp, while India’s exports to Canada are anchored by precious metals, machinery, and essential pharmaceutical goods. Furthermore, the services sector remains a critical pillar of the relationship, with education-related travel accounting for a significant portion of Canada’s service exports to India.

With four rounds of formal negotiations already concluded, officials from both countries are now working to bridge remaining gaps. The shared goal is to maintain this current momentum and sign a comprehensive deal by the end of 2026, a move that would solidify a new era of economic cooperation between the two democratic partners.

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