Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada in December, according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as New Delhi and Ottawa push to conclude a major trade agreement by the end of the year.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Carney said trade negotiations with India were making “good progress”. He added that, to his understanding, Modi had confirmed plans to visit Canada around that period, although the exact date had not yet been finalised.
India and Canada formally launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in March 2026. The next round of talks is scheduled to begin on October 5, with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal describing the coming months as important for the negotiations. Both sides are seeking to fast-track discussions and complete the agreement by the end of 2026.
Carney described India-Canada relations as “exceptionally important” across people-to-people ties, security, trade and the wider economy. Canada is also pursuing a broader strategy to diversify trade beyond the United States, with India identified as an important market.
Modi’s possible December visit could therefore coincide with the final stage of the negotiations. However, there is currently no confirmed date for the visit or final signing of the trade agreement.
