India and Canada launch fourth round of CEPA negotiations, aim to seal deal this year

India and Canada convened the fourth round of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement talks from September 14 to 18, focusing on goods, services, rules of origin and technical trade barriers. The dialogue builds on a July session held in Ottawa and reflects a shared goal of expanding bilateral commerce to $50 billion by 2030. Recent figures show a decline in two-way trade, which dropped 8.22 % in 2025-26 to $7.95 billion, underscoring the need for a new pact.

Indian exports to Canada span pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, seafood, cotton garments, electronics and chemicals, while Canadian imports feature pulses, pearls, coal, fertilizer, paper and crude oil. Services such as telecommunications and IT also feature prominently in India's export basket. Over 425,000 Indian students reside in Canada, adding a strong community dimension to the partnership.