Canada’s Anita Anand Says She Looks Forward to Meeting Jaishankar on Trade Pact

New Delhi — Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said she looks forward to meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar this week to discuss efforts to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Canada and India.

“The Canada-India bilateral relationship is growing and the conclusion of the CEPA before the end of the year is key to our overall strategy. I look forward to speaking with @DrSJaishankar this week during @UN high level week,” Anand posted on X.

Jaishankar spoke with Anand last week about bilateral cooperation and the situation in Ukraine.

“Good to speak with FM Anita Anand of Canada this evening, on our bilateral cooperation as well as on the Ukraine situation,” Jaishankar posted on X.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also met last week with Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu to discuss progress on the proposed trade agreement.

“I just finished round four of trade negotiations with my team in India. These negotiations require sustained, face-to-face cooperation, and I look forward to meeting with Minister Goyal again in the coming weeks as we continue to build momentum toward a CEPA agreement,” Sidhu posted on X.

Canada and India recorded $30.8 billion in two-way trade in 2024, with a goal of increasing that figure to $70 billion by 2030.

“From agriculture and agri-food to energy, critical minerals, AI and tech, aerospace, and defence, a CEPA can open more doors for Canadian businesses in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets,” Sidhu said.

Goyal said both sides reaffirmed “our leadership’s commitment to expedite negotiations and conclude CEPA at the earliest, unlocking new opportunities across trade in goods, services, and investment, among others.”

He added that an early conclusion of the India-Canada CEPA would help advance the two countries’ shared goal of significantly increasing bilateral trade and deepening their economic partnership for mutual benefit. (Source: IANS)