OTTAWA, Canada, Feb. 23 — India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, expressed optimism that India and Canada could conclude a comprehensive trade agreement within a year, despite previous delays in negotiations, according to The Canadian Press.
Speaking ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s anticipated visit to India, Patnaik said a 12-month timeline for finalizing the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is achievable, given the evolving geopolitical landscape and growing need for cooperation across sectors.
“We expect it to be much faster, given that we both have had enough experience of doing these kinds of free trade agreements in the last one or two years,” Patnaik said.
Trade negotiations between the two countries, which began in 2010, have stalled multiple times. However, in November, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Carney agreed to formally relaunch CEPA talks. The agreement is expected to cover trade in goods and services, investments, agriculture, and digital commerce.
On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, both leaders agreed to begin negotiations on a high-ambition CEPA aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Sources in the ministry said Carney is expected to visit India in the first week of March.
The Canadian prime minister’s visit is likely to include agreements on uranium, energy, minerals, and artificial intelligence, with trade expected to be a central focus.
Patnaik said Carney’s visit will likely include meetings with senior government officials and business leaders in New Delhi and Mumbai to strengthen bilateral engagement.
Highlighting recent progress, the envoy noted that India and Canada have signed several agreements over the past year in areas including energy, climate change, high-technology research, and climate-resilient agriculture. He emphasized that both leaders are committed to expanding economic ties.
“Both the prime ministers are very keen, so the intent is there on both sides,” Patnaik said.
He added that both countries have gained significant experience in negotiating trade agreements in recent years, which could help resolve past obstacles.
“The way we look at the world has changed. We have moved on to our positions, both of us. And so a lot of the issues which are there in the past, which could have held us back, are probably more resolvable now,” he said.
Patnaik also noted that the two economies are largely complementary rather than competitive. Canada is a major exporter of commodities, while India represents a vast consumer market, reducing the likelihood of direct competition.
He added that typical trade negotiation issues, including phytosanitary standards, government procurement rules, and customs procedures, are not posing significant challenges in the current discussions.
“We really don’t compete on many issues,” Patnaik said, underscoring the potential for a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
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