Tag: CEPA

India-Canada bilateral trade reached CAD 30.9 billion in 2024 but remains underutilized. Despite 2023 diplomatic tensions, economic ties proved resilient. A proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) could add CAD 8.8 billion in trade by 2035. Priority sectors include pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, agriculture, IT services, and clean energy, offering mutual strategic benefits.

The closed-door discussion examined ways to safeguard India–Canada ties amid Nijjar’s upcoming trial, focusing on confidence-building measures, diplomatic off-ramps, and media de-escalation. Participants discussed managing political sensitivities during Canada’s election year, planning high-level engagements, and insulating business and people-to-people links from political shocks to preserve recent positive momentum.

This roundtable explored the India-Canada relationship amid growing diplomatic tensions, despite strong trade and educational ties. Experts examined challenges like diaspora politics and geopolitical shifts, while identifying opportunities for cooperation in climate action, technology, and the Indo-Pacific. The discussion aimed to rebuild trust and chart a constructive, forward-looking partnership.

This roundtable discussed the revival of India–Canada trade ties through the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), following a diplomatic freeze. It examined sectoral priorities, strategic cooperation, and the potential for EPTA to serve as a foundation for CEPA, amid Canada’s Indo-Pacific push and China’s growing regional influence.