India, Canada to begin 5th round of CEPA talks

India and Canada are set to begin the fifth round of negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Ottawa from October 5, aiming to finalize the pact by the end of 2026. The five-day talks, which follow the fourth round held in New Delhi, are expected to conclude on October 9. The negotiations have gained momentum, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada around December.

Canada's Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is also scheduled to visit New Delhi with a business delegation, following a meeting with India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Mumbai. The CEPA, a form of free trade agreement, seeks to reduce customs duties on traded goods, facilitate skilled professionals' movement, and promote investment.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.