10 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 26
Piyush Goyal said Mark Carney’s late-February India visit put Canada and India on a path to a “complete overhaul” of relations after the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar derailed ties.
Trade talks, suspended by Ottawa in 2023 after allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing, are now moving again, with both sides aiming to reach a free trade agreement this year.
More than 100 senior Indian business representatives joined Goyal in Canada, and Carney said the two countries are reviewing opportunities in energy, agri-food, tech and education.
The reset has already produced a C$2.6 billion uranium supply deal for about 22 million pounds to fuel India’s nuclear power sector, while both governments target tripling trade to $50 billion by 2030.
Analysts say the rapprochement also reflects a broader push by both countries to diversify economic partners and reduce reliance on the United States.
With deep security mistrust lingering, can India and Canada truly build lasting economic ties, or will unresolved espionage allegations derail this fragile reset?
Are ambitious trade and energy deals enough to overcome the political fallout from unsolved allegations in the Nijjar case and ongoing foreign interference claims?
India and Canada’s Path to $50 Billion Trade: Diplomacy, CEPA, and Strategic Collaboration
Overview
From March to May 2026, India and Canada experienced a major diplomatic thaw, marked by high-level meetings such as Prime Minister Modi’s engagement with Mark Carney at the G7 summit. This renewed trust set the stage for robust cooperation, as both countries launched a series of reciprocal Ministerial-led trade and investment visits, each with business delegations. These efforts reflect a clear commitment to unlocking new commercial opportunities and deepening economic ties, signaling a turning point in the relationship and laying the foundation for ambitious trade and investment goals in the years ahead.