India, Canada Target 2026 End For Free Trade Pact, Expand Strategic Ties
India and Canada have agreed to conclude negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney held wide-ranging talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France.
The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across trade, investment, energy, defence, innovation, education and people-to-people exchanges .
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made in CEPA negotiations and reiterated their shared objective of finalising the free trade agreement this year. The pact is expected to enhance market access, reduce trade barriers and create new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Modi and Carney also agreed to launch negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement , a move aimed at expanding defence and security cooperation.
The leaders highlighted the complementary nature of the Indian and Canadian economies and underscored the importance of building resilient and reliable supply chains to support global energy and food security. They reviewed ongoing economic cooperation, including commercial arrangements related to liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and metallurgical coal .
The meeting also focused on collaboration in strategic sectors such as critical minerals, uranium supplies, critical technologies, renewable energy and small modular nuclear reactors , areas identified as key drivers of future economic growth and energy security.
Welcoming growing institutional engagement, the two sides noted recent meetings of the Joint Science and Technology Committee and the Consular Dialogue, while expressing interest in further discussions on defence, finance and migration.
The leaders also welcomed ongoing collaboration under the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy and announced the establishment of Raisina Americas , a platform designed to strengthen dialogue, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
Modi further expressed support for Canada becoming a Dialogue Partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
The discussions reflected the positive momentum in bilateral ties since Carney's visit to India earlier this year and marked another step in efforts to rebuild relations and advance a forward-looking strategic partnership focused on trade, investment and long-term economic cooperation.