India and Canada to Resume Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 22 December 2025, 06:42:03 PM IST

India and Canada to Resume Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
  • India and Canada to discuss terms for restarting FTA negotiations after a pause in 2023
  • Talks will define the scope, framework, and modalities of the proposed trade pact
  • Move highlights India’s growing role in global trade and strategic geopolitics

India and Canada are preparing to restart formal discussions toward a free trade agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. The two sides will soon begin talks on the Terms of Reference (ToR), a key step that defines the scope and framework of a proposed trade pact.

The negotiations were earlier put on hold by Canada in 2023. According to Goyal, the upcoming ToR discussions will help both countries formally relaunch the trade talks and set clear priorities. He shared the update while speaking to the media after the conclusion of India-New Zealand free trade agreement negotiations.

Goyal highlighted that India has already finalized trade agreements with Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, all members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. The alliance also includes Canada and the United States. He added that India is currently at an advanced stage of negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement with the US, underlining India’s growing strategic and economic importance globally.

Both India and Canada have appointed chief negotiators for the proposed trade pact. Brij Mohan Mishra, Joint Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, will lead negotiations for India, while Bruce Christie will represent Canada.

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Trade data shows steady momentum between the two countries. India’s exports to Canada rose 9.8 percent to $4.22 billion in FY 2024-25, up from $3.84 billion the previous year. Imports from Canada dipped slightly by 2.33 percent to $4.44 billion. Overall bilateral trade in goods and services stood at $18.38 billion in 2023.

The relationship is further strengthened by strong people-to-people ties. Canada is home to around 2.9 million people of Indian origin and over 427,000 Indian students, making India a key partner in Canada’s economic and cultural landscape.

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