Canada and India target December conclusion for trade negotiations

Canada and India are aiming to conclude trade negotiations by the G20 summit in mid-December, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday. Carney said the talks were making “good progress” as the two countries work towards an agreement. The supplied material does not give details of the issues under negotiation, the sectors covered or the remaining obstacles to a deal.

The prime minister also said that India had, to his understanding, confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Canada around the time of the summit. Carney said the precise date of the visit had not yet been finalised. The comments were made at a news conference.

The available report places the trade discussions and the proposed visit in the context of strained ties between Canada and the United States, but does not provide further details about the relationship or explain how it may affect the negotiations. No timetable beyond the mid-December target was provided in the supplied material. It is also unclear from the report whether the negotiations are expected to produce a complete trade agreement or another form of arrangement.

Carney’s statement establishes an intended deadline rather than confirming that a deal has been reached. The report contains no response from the Indian government or details of the next scheduled negotiating session.