OTTAWA, October 5 — Senior trade negotiators from India and Canada formally commenced intensive working-group discussions in Ottawa, locking in the negotiating terms for the fifth round of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Led by senior officials from the Department of Commerce, the Indian delegation is engaging Canadian counterparts across dedicated tracks covering critical energy transition minerals, non-tariff customs facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, and professional service provider mobility. Central to India's strategic interest is securing resilient, long-term supply pacts for Canadian potash, cobalt, lithium, and fuel-grade uranium to bolster domestic battery manufacturing and agricultural fertilizer reserves.
In reciprocal negotiations, India seeks comprehensive tariff elimination across its high-value manufacturing exports, notably apparel, gems, and automotive ancillary parts, alongside simplified visa quotas for STEM professionals. Negotiators reaffirmed their goal of finalizing text provisions before the close of 2026.
International trade agreements, supply chain diversification, and critical mineral value chains are high-yield subjects in UPSC GS Paper II (Bilateral Agreements) and GS Paper III (External Sector). Candidates should remember that the bilateral merchandise and services exchange between India and Canada stands above $9 billion, with the proposed CEPA designed to elevate bilateral trade to $25 billion by 2030.