Modi to visit Ottawa, Toronto; ‘will see if it can be broadened’: Mark Carney

Narendra Modi’s December 11–12 visit is meant to turn improved India-Canada relations into concrete cooperation. The two governments are fast-tracking a trade agreement and want results across trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people ties. The visit also signals that both sides are rebuilding a relationship damaged in recent years.

Modi is expected to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa. In Toronto, he is expected to meet Canadian businesses and attend a diaspora gathering. India and Canada may announce the conclusion of negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, after the fifth round of talks ended in Ottawa.

The visit comes before Modi travels to Miami for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. Officials will review unresolved trade issues in November, while agreed items undergo legal scrubbing. A successful visit could strengthen economic links and support the countries’ goal of doubling two-way trade by 2030.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is the proposed trade pact between India and Canada. The article presents it as a framework for expanding economic relations, although it does not list every planned provision. Negotiations cover a wide commercial relationship, while the broader partnership also includes energy, technology and other strategic areas.

India and Canada launched CEPA negotiations in New Delhi on March 2, signing terms of reference in the presence of Modi and Carney. The fifth negotiation round ended in Ottawa. Officials are due to review outstanding issues in November, and agreed sections will undergo legal scrubbing before completion.

Both governments are trying to conclude CEPA at the earliest opportunity. Their stated target is to double two-way trade by 2030, reaching $70 billion. Canada wants stronger economic links with India, while India is expected to purchase Canadian energy. The deal would also reinforce the recent improvement in bilateral relations.

India and Canada recorded $30.4 billion in bilateral goods and services trade in 2025. That figure shows the relationship already has substantial commercial weight, but it remains well below the governments’ longer-term ambition. Their stated goal is to raise two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030.

Merchandise trade made up $13.6 billion of the 2025 total. Canada exported $3.9 billion in goods to India, including vegetables, mineral fuels and oils, and wood pulp. India exported $9.7 billion in merchandise to Canada, including precious stones, metals, machinery and pharmaceuticals.

The $70 billion target would require trade to grow by about $39.6 billion from the 2025 total. India and Canada are working overtime to finalize CEPA before December. Faster trade talks, expected energy purchases and renewed political engagement are intended to help close that gap.

A finalized CEPA could make cross-border business easier, but the article does not state its final provisions. In general, trade agreements can reduce duties, simplify customs procedures and clarify rules for companies. Those changes can make imported goods more competitive and encourage firms to sell, source and invest across borders.

The article identifies energy as an important opportunity. India is expected to purchase energy from Canada, which could create more business for Canadian suppliers. Canada already exports vegetables, mineral fuels, oils and wood pulp to India. Indian exporters already sell precious stones, metals, machinery and pharmaceuticals to Canada.

Consumers could see more product choice or lower prices if barriers fall, though no specific price changes are promised. The outcome depends on unresolved negotiations and legal scrubbing. If completed, CEPA could help both countries move toward $70 billion in two-way trade by 2030.

Canada is seeking stronger economic relations with India because it faces trade tensions with the United States. The article says Canada is keen to bolster economic ties with countries such as India. Building more relationships can reduce reliance on one major trading partner and create additional opportunities for Canadian exporters.

The India relationship offers several practical openings. Canada exports vegetables, mineral fuels and oils, and wood pulp to India, worth $3.9 billion. India exports $9.7 billion in merchandise to Canada, including precious stones, metals, machinery and pharmaceuticals. India is also expected to purchase energy from Canada.

The governments are therefore pushing CEPA negotiations quickly. Their target is to double two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030. Canada’s trade mission in India and Anita Anand’s visit to New Delhi show increased engagement. The planned Modi visit could turn that momentum into concrete commercial outcomes.

India-Canada relations fell to their lowest level in decades after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the accusations as “absurd” and “motivated.” The dispute damaged political trust between the two countries.

Repair began after Mark Carney became Canadian prime minister and invited Modi to attend the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis in June last year. The two governments then increased contact. Their engagement now covers trade, finance, defence and security, artificial intelligence, energy, technology and people-to-people ties.

Trade negotiations have provided a practical channel for rebuilding the relationship. Modi and Carney have pledged to pursue concrete outcomes and conclude CEPA. Carney’s planned meeting with Modi, the Canadian trade mission in India and Anita Anand’s visit to New Delhi show continuing momentum. The December visit could deepen that recovery.

Trade agreements such as CEPA increase trade by making it cheaper and more predictable for companies to sell across borders. They commonly reduce or eliminate tariffs, simplify customs procedures and set clearer rules for goods and services. They may also establish commitments on investment, government procurement, intellectual property and regulation.

For example, if an agreement lowers a tariff on a product, exporters can offer it at a more competitive price in the partner country. Faster customs clearance can reduce delays, while common or recognized standards can limit repeated testing and paperwork. Businesses may then expand sales, supply chains or investment across both markets.

The article does not specify which barriers CEPA will remove. It says negotiations are ongoing, with officials reviewing outstanding issues and legally scrubbing agreed text. India and Canada want the pact to support a rise in two-way trade from $30.4 billion in 2025 to $70 billion by 2030.