Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on November 11 met Maninder Sidhu, Canada's Minister of International Trade, and the accompanying Canadian delegation to discuss advancing negotiations on the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and strengthening bilateral economic ties.
"(We) exchanged views on the importance of a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement that delivers meaningful market access, leverages the complementarities of our economies and creates new opportunities for trade and investment," Goyal wrote on X.
"(We) reaffirmed our shared commitment to taking the India-Canada economic partnership to new heights, with CEPA serving as a catalyst for deeper commercial engagement and shared prosperity," the minister said.
Canada and India have intensified negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, aiming to conclude the pact by the end of 2026. The two countries launched negotiations for the CEPA in March in New Delhi.
CEPA is a trade agreement under which two countries significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on a wide range of goods traded between them. Such agreements also ease norms for the movement of skilled professionals and help attract investments.