Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu has concluded a three-day visit to India, where he joined negotiators in the sixth round of talks on a trade agreement between the two countries, Global Affairs Canada said Friday. The department said the visit moves Canada closer to concluding the deal.
The proposed pact is called the Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA. Global Affairs Canada said it will help double bilateral trade to $70 billion. Sidhu said in a statement that this would happen by 2030. The release did not say what trade is worth now.
In New Delhi, Sidhu met Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, to discuss progress on the agreement. He also met Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, to discuss code-share services for Canadian airlines in the Indian market and stronger air links between the two countries. Under a code-share arrangement, one airline sells seats on flights operated by another.
Sidhu also met representatives of IndiGo Airlines. According to the release, they discussed Canada-India aviation ties and support for the airline’s international expansion.
In Visakhapatnam, Sidhu represented Canada at the Confederation of Indian Industry Partnership Summit. Global Affairs Canada said his attendance reinforced Canada’s commitment to diversifying its commercial relationships and creating opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.
Sidhu said India’s market of nearly 1.5 billion people offers openings for Canadian businesses in sectors including agri-food, clean energy, artificial intelligence and aerospace. He said closer economic ties with India will help create better jobs in Canada.
The release also gave trade figures. Canada’s imports of goods from India were valued at $9.7 billion in 2025, according to the release, an increase of 20.7% from 2024. The top five goods Canada exports to India are vegetables, mineral fuels and oils, wood pulp, fertilizer, and paper and paperboard. The top five goods it imports from India are precious stones and metals, machinery, pharmaceutical products, electronics, and iron or steel products.
According to the release, in 2024 Canadian affiliates employed more than 68,900 Indians, and Indian affiliates employed more than 37,900 Canadians.
Earlier on Nov. 13, it was reported that India is hosting the sixth round of negotiations in New Delhi from Nov. 11 to 20. The release issued Friday did not say whether the talks have produced an agreement.