New Delhi, September 23, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada in December as India and Canada accelerate negotiations on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the two countries are making good progress in their trade discussions and are working towards concluding negotiations by the end of 2026.
Mark Carney Confirms Expected December Visit
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expected Prime Minister Modi to visit Canada around the time of the G20 summit in December.
Carney said the exact date of Modi's visit had not yet been finalised but indicated that Canada expected the Indian prime minister to travel to the country around that period. He also said he was looking forward to hosting Modi.
The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa work to rebuild economic engagement and advance negotiations on a comprehensive trade agreement.
India-Canada CEPA Talks Moving Forward
The two countries are currently working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which is intended to expand cooperation in goods, services and investment.
India and Canada recently completed the fourth round of negotiations between September 14 and 19. The talks involved senior officials from both countries, with both sides expressing an intention to speed up the process and work towards completing the agreement before the end of this year.
The next round of negotiations is expected to begin on October 5, adding another important milestone to the accelerated trade process.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has also indicated that the coming months will be significant for the negotiations as both sides work through remaining issues.
Trade and Investment at the Centre of Discussions
The proposed CEPA is aimed at creating a broader framework for India-Canada commercial relations. Discussions cover areas involving trade in goods and services, investment and supply-chain cooperation.
The two governments have also identified sectors such as energy and critical minerals as areas with potential for greater collaboration. During Carney's visit to India earlier this year, both countries agreed to deepen cooperation in energy, including LNG, LPG, civil nuclear energy and critical minerals. A long-term uranium supply agreement worth CAD 2.6 billion was also welcomed by the two sides.
The leaders have previously set an ambition of expanding bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030, providing a broader economic objective for the renewed engagement.
Relations Showing Signs of Economic Reset
The renewed trade discussions follow a period of diplomatic strain between India and Canada. In 2026, both governments have increased high-level engagement and restarted several institutional mechanisms.
When Modi and Carney met during the G7 Summit in France in June, they welcomed the positive momentum in bilateral relations and reviewed progress in economic cooperation. Both leaders also reaffirmed their objective of completing CEPA negotiations during 2026.
The two countries are also working on cooperation involving energy security, critical minerals, clean energy, technology and investment.
December Could Become an Important Milestone
If the visit takes place as expected, Modi's December trip could provide an opportunity for the two governments to review the progress of the trade negotiations at the highest political level.
With another round of CEPA discussions scheduled for October and both sides targeting the end of 2026 for completion, the coming months are likely to be important for the future direction of India-Canada economic relations.
For now, the precise date of Prime Minister Modi's Canada visit remains to be finalised, while negotiators continue working towards the proposed trade agreement.
