PM Modi to Visit Canada in December, Says Trade Minister Sidhu
Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu announces PM Modi's upcoming December visit to Canada as both nations push for a major trade agreement.
In a major diplomatic development, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, has announced that Ottawa is eagerly anticipating the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December. This high-profile visit marks a significant step in revitalizing the relationship between the two nations as they push to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Deepening Bilateral Ties and Economic Cooperation
Speaking to ANI during his visit to India, Minister Sidhu emphasized that the upcoming visit is part of a sustained effort to deepen ties under the Canadian government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. He noted that regular ministerial exchanges and business engagements are crucial for both sides to address shared global challenges.
“This is now my fifth trip to India since I became Trade Minister. Prime Minister Carney and I were here in early March, in fact, here in Mumbai, visiting and signing commercial contracts. We're looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Canada in December,” Sidhu stated. He highlighted that constant engagement at both the ministerial and leadership levels is the cornerstone of this renewed momentum.
A Wave of Ministerial Exchanges
The push for closer ties has been characterized by a flurry of high-level visits from both sides. Sidhu pointed out several key diplomatic movements:
- May: India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal led a massive Indian delegation to Canada.
- Recent Visits: Canadian ministers specializing in Energy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Foreign Affairs have all made recent trips to India.
Sidhu believes that this continuous dialogue is essential for navigating complex global issues, such as supply chain disruptions and energy price volatility caused by geopolitical tensions in regions like the Strait of Hormuz.
The Race to Conclude the CEPA Agreement
A central pillar of the current diplomatic push is the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, both nations are actively working to advance these negotiations to reach a mutually beneficial conclusion.
The roadmap for the trade pact has seen significant progress:
- Negotiation Status: The fifth round of negotiations recently concluded in Ottawa.
- Terms of Reference: Ministers Piyush Goyal and Maninder Sidhu signed the Terms of Reference on March 2, 2026, during Prime Minister Carney's visit to India.
- Target Deadline: Both countries have committed to concluding the negotiations by the end of 2026.
While discussions regarding a comprehensive trade pact have spanned over a decade, negotiations were temporarily paused in August 2023 due to strained bilateral relations. However, since the relaunch of talks in 2025, momentum has returned with vigor.
Ambitious Goals for 2030
Prime Minister Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have shared a vision of expanding cooperation across several critical sectors, including:
- Trade and Investment
- Defence and Security
- Artificial Intelligence and Technology
- Energy and Clean Tech
- People-to-people exchanges
The ultimate objective of these efforts is to double bilateral trade by the year 2030. To support this, the "Team Canada Trade Mission," led by Sidhu and consisting of approximately 300 delegates, is currently exploring vast opportunities in India across sectors such as aerospace, life sciences, agri-food, and forestry.