India, Canada Step Up Trade Engagement Ahead of Modi’s Expected December Visit

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada and India are making “good progress” in their trade negotiations and are aiming to conclude talks by the G20 Summit in December, around the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada.

Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Carney said he and Modi had committed to working towards concluding the negotiations by the G20. The summit is scheduled for December 14–15 in Miami, hosted by US President Donald Trump.

Carney said India had, to his understanding, confirmed that Modi would visit Canada around the time of the summit, although the precise date has not been finalised. Modi last visited Canada in June 2025 to attend the G7 Summit at Carney’s invitation.

Canada and India formally launched negotiations on a comprehensive trade agreement in March 2026, with both sides targeting completion by the end of the year. Carney has made India a key part of his strategy to expand Canada’s trade beyond the United States, with Ottawa seeking to double its non-US trade over the next decade.

The push to strengthen economic ties comes after a period of strained bilateral relations following the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau had cited allegations linking Indian government agents to the killing. India denied the allegations and accused Canada of providing space to Sikh separatists.

Carney has moved to rebuild ties with New Delhi, including through his bilateral visit to India earlier this year, the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2018.

Bilateral goods trade stood at USD 8.6 billion in 2024, while services trade was valued at USD 14.3 billion, highlighting the economic significance of the relationship.