Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand has said she looks forward to meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level week, with the conclusion of the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) topping the agenda. The remarks, posted on X, signal renewed diplomatic momentum between the two countries after a prolonged period of bilateral strain.

Anand's Push for CEPA Before Year-End

In her post, Anand described the bilateral relationship as 'growing' and called the conclusion of CEPA 'key to our overall strategy.' '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,' she said. The statement marks a clear deadline: both sides appear aligned on wrapping up the trade pact by December 2026.

Jaishankar-Anand Phone Call and Ukraine Talks

The planned in-person meeting follows a phone conversation last week in which EAM Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Anand discussed bilateral cooperation as well as the ongoing 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 said in a post on X. The back-to-back engagements — first by phone, now in person at the UN — reflect a deliberate effort to rebuild high-level communication between New Delhi and Ottawa.

Trade Negotiations: Round Four Completed

Separately, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu in New Delhi last week to advance CEPA talks. Sidhu confirmed that a fourth round of negotiations had been completed on Indian soil. '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. Both ministers reaffirmed their 'leadership's commitment to expedite negotiations and conclude CEPA at the earliest, unlocking new opportunities across trade in goods, services, and investment, among others,' according to Goyal's post.

The Economic Stakes

Canada and India recorded $30.8 billion in two-way trade in 2024. The joint target is to more than double that figure to $70 billion by 2030. Sidhu outlined sectors where a CEPA could unlock new business: agriculture and agri-food, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and technology, aerospace, and defence. For India, the agreement would formalise preferential access to one of North America's most stable economies; for Canada, it opens a path into what both sides describe as 'one of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets.'

What Comes Next

With UNGA high-level week providing a concentrated diplomatic window, the Jaishankar-Anand meeting in New York is likely to set the political tone for the final stretch of negotiations. Goyal has expressed confidence that an 'early conclusion' of CEPA will deepen the economic partnership for 'mutual benefit.' The next ministerial round between Goyal and Sidhu is expected within weeks. How quickly both sides can bridge remaining gaps on market access, rules of origin, and services liberalisation will determine whether the year-end deadline holds.