Canada and India have agreed to restart negotiations for a new trade deal, Indian officials confirmed on Sunday, after talks stalled following a diplomatic spat two years ago.
The announcement came after a bilateral meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“The leaders agreed to begin negotiations on a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030,” said a statement from India’s Prime Minister’s Office.
On X, Prime Minister Carney added, “India is the world’s fifth-largest economy, and that means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses. We launched negotiations for a trade deal that could more than double our trade to more than C$70 billion.”
Both countries also reaffirmed longstanding civil nuclear cooperation and noted ongoing discussions to expand collaboration, including through long-term uranium supply arrangements.
The restart of trade talks signals a thaw in relations after Canada paused negotiations in 2023, following accusations that India was involved in the killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist — allegations New Delhi denied. Despite the diplomatic row, trade between Canada and India continued to grow, though experts note it remains small relative to India’s economy.
In 2024, two-way goods and services trade reached about C$31 billion ($21.98 billion), largely favouring Canada due to C$16 billion in services exports. By comparison, Canada’s trade with China was nearly four times larger.
Carney emphasised the need to diversify Canada’s trade beyond the U.S., its largest trading partner, vowing to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade.
“What we're looking to do is to put that commercial relationship on a sound footing through a potential trade agreement,” he said, noting that it would include business protections, clear rules, and dispute mechanisms.
During the summit, Carney also met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the two leaders agreed to intensify negotiations on a Canada-Mercosur free trade agreement. Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
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Afghan and Uzbek business officials have discussed ways to expand trade, ease transit bottlenecks and address customs challenges facing traders, according to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).
Armenia is set to receive a support package worth more than €50 million ($58.2 million) from the European Union (EU) after Russia, its largest trading partner, imposed restrictions on a range of Armenian exports.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
Israel's Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced plans on Wednesday (4 June) to expand three Jewish settlements in the West Bank by more than 2,000 homes, drawing condemnation from Palestinian leaders who warned the move could fuel further unrest.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Police officers were pelted with missiles during violent clashes at a protest near the Southampton, UK, home of convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa, as anger continued to grow over the handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
An Iranian drone and missile attack struck Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday, injuring several people, damaging Terminal 1 and forcing flight diversions, Kuwaiti authorities said.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
China has criticised planned maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines, arguing that the waters involved fall within an area where Beijing claims maritime rights and jurisdiction.
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend next month's NATO leaders' summit in Türkiye, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether he would take part in a gathering expected to focus on the future of the alliance.
All 27 European Union (EU) member countries have agreed to begin the first set of talks with Ukraine and Moldova about joining the political and economic bloc.
Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul has suggested that Berlin's strong backing of Ukraine and its close ties with Israel may have contributed to its failure to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
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