India-Canada CEPA Round 2: Free trade talks begin in New Delhi, deal targeted by year-end
India and Canada on Monday, 5 May 2025 launched the second round of negotiations for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi, with both sides targeting conclusion of the pact by year-end 2025. The five-day talks are aimed at fast-tracking a bilateral free trade deal that could reshape economic ties between the two nations, with a shared ambition of scaling bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion (approximately ₹4.65 lakh crore) by 2030.
Talks Underway Ahead of Goyal's Canada Visit
The New Delhi negotiations precede a scheduled visit by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to Canada later this month, aimed at further accelerating economic engagement. A senior official, speaking to news agency IANS, confirmed the urgency:
