India and Canada Advance CEPA Talks Aiming for Dec. Deal

India and Canada are engaged in their fifth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with key focus areas including agriculture, energy, and labor mobility. The talks, held in Ottawa on Monday, aim to address market access for agricultural products like pulses and fertilizers, as well as technical standards and visa policies for workers. Both nations are eager to finalize the agreement before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anticipated visit to Canada in December.

Canada, the world's largest pulse exporter, seeks predictable, long-term access to India's market, while India is considering tariff-rate quotas to protect its farm sector. Canadian farm groups have pushed for enforceable commitments rather than tariff cuts that could be reversed. India also wants better access for fertilizers, particularly potash, and is advocating for more visas for professionals and workers.

The negotiations follow a fourth round in New Delhi in September, where Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the agreement quickly. The two countries aim to more than double their two-way trade to $70 billion (Canadian dollars) by 2030. The urgency in advancing the talks is driven by geopolitical uncertainty and changes in the US tariff regime under President Donald Trump.

India has requested that Canada ease its technical regulations and product safety requirements, including packaging and labeling standards. Canada, in turn, has identified certain Indian regulations on farm products as non-tariff barriers. The negotiations were previously paused in late 2023 due to strained bilateral ties but resumed after Mark Carney became Canadian Prime Minister in 2025.