Fifth Round of CEPA Talks Begins in Ottawa to Seal Free Trade Deal by 2026
Trade negotiators from India and Canada have convened in Ottawa to kick off the fifth round of official negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The five-day diplomatic exercise, scheduled to run until October 9, 2026, directly follows the fourth round of talks that wrapped up in New Delhi on September 18. Both negotiating teams are working under a clear mandate to fast-track unresolved trade chapters, iron out non-tariff barriers, and conclude the comprehensive pact before the end of the 2026 calendar year.
Diplomatic Reset and Leadership Push: PM Modi’s Anticipated December Visit
The heightened urgency surrounding the trade talks coincides with a major diplomatic reset between New Delhi and Ottawa. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled last month that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to undertake an official bilateral visit to Canada around December 2026, creating high-level momentum to deliver a concluded agreement. The current thaw reflects the revitalization of bilateral ties that began in earnest following bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada last June, paving the way for structured economic re-engagement.
Understanding CEPA: Slashing Tariffs Across Key Export Sectors
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement represents an extensive free trade framework intended to significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties and regulatory friction across thousands of traded commodities and services. A concluded CEPA will grant Indian pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture, information technology services, and engineering goods preferential access to the Canadian market, while opening reciprocal pathways for Canadian clean technology, critical minerals, forestry products, and pulses into India's expanding industrial and consumer ecosystem.
A Tumultuous Decade of Talks: From the 2015 Genesis to the 2026 Breakthrough
The path toward an India-Canada free trade agreement has spanned more than a decade of complex negotiations and geopolitical challenges. The two nations initially commenced formal discussions in 2015, holding over half a dozen rounds until 2017 before engagements hit a prolonged stalemate. Although bilateral dialogue was revived in March 2022, negotiations suffered another severe rupture in late 2023 amid acute diplomatic friction under former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding allegations surrounding Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Following a prolonged diplomatic impasse, both capitals formally agreed in November 2025 to return to the negotiating table, transforming fractured ties into an accelerated trade corridor targeting closure before the year ends.
