Canada Leads Largest Trade Delegation to India in 30 Years
What Happened
Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu began leading a 300‑member Team Canada Trade Mission to India, the largest in more than three decades. The delegation is visiting Mumbai and Bengaluru to explore partnerships in aerospace, clean technology, ICT, life sciences, agri‑food, and forestry. The mission coincides with the fifth round of CEPA negotiations, held in Ottawa earlier this month, as both countries aim to finalize the agreement by end‑2026. Canada has set a target to double bilateral trade with India to USD 70 billion by 2030, up from USD 30.4 billion in 2025. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is also visiting India (October 13–16) to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with discussions expected on trade, energy, security, and defence cooperation.
Key Takeaways
The mission underscores Canada’s intent to diversify trade beyond the US and deepen ties with India’s fast‑growing economy. For India, it signals progress toward a long‑pending CEPA, which could expand market access, investment flows, and cooperation in critical sectors like energy and minerals.