Canada–India: largest trade mission in 30 years
Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu led nearly 300 delegates to Mumbai and Bengaluru the week of October 12, the largest Canadian trade delegation to India in 30 years. Global Affairs Canada says 34 commercial agreements worth close to $300 million were signed. Meeting India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi after the fifth negotiating round in Ottawa, the two ministers said they are intensifying efforts to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA); in September both sides set the end of 2026 as their objective for concluding negotiations.
Two-way goods and services trade with India was $30.4 billion in 2025, including $9.7 billion of merchandise imports from India. A CEPA would bring preferential tariff treatment and new rules of origin for those goods; no text or timeline for entry into force has been released.
Global Affairs Canada: mission results · Readout: Minister Sidhu and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry
Philippines and ASEAN
At the Canada-ASEAN Initiatives Economic Symposium on October 13, the Philippine Ambassador to Canada stressed the importance of concluding both the Canada–Philippines Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement. In September, Global Affairs Canada described the Philippines agreement as closer to conclusion, with both governments aiming to conclude negotiations this year.
