PM of Canada Mark Carney calls India-Canada CEPA a "Game Changer" as Piyush Goyal holds high-level talks in Ottawa

📌 Summary:

• Union Commerce Minister Shri Piyush Goyal led the largest-ever Indian business delegation (100+ companies) to Canada (Ottawa May 25; Toronto May 26–27) to advance India–Canada CEPA negotiations and revive bilateral economic ties
• Canadian PM Mr. Mark Carney called the proposed FTA a "Game Changer", unlocking a massive new market for both sides
• Both sides reaffirmed commitment to conclude a balanced, commercially meaningful and ambitious CEPA by end of 2026
• Goyal held bilateral meetings with PM Carney, Canada's Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand
• Agriculture cooperation focus: food security, sustainability, agri-tech and food processing — aimed at boosting Indian farmers' incomes
• Strategic Partnership discussions covered infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, digital infrastructure, and the role of Indian diaspora
• CEPA timeline: Terms of Reference signed March 2025; 1st virtual round March 2026; 2nd round concluded May 8, 2026; technical negotiations underway in Ottawa May 25–29
• The visit builds on PM Carney's New Delhi visit in March 2026 and sustained high-level engagement since mid-2025
• Indian delegation drawn from energy, mining, automotive, pharma, telecom and artificial intelligence sectors

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Bilateral agreements with developed economies; significance of CEPA in the revival of India–Canada ties after the recent diplomatic strain; India's foreign trade strategy

📝 Prelims Facts:

• CEPA = Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
• Canadian PM (since 2025): Mark Carney (former Governor of Bank of England & Bank of Canada)
• Union Commerce Minister: Piyush Goyal
• CEPA Terms of Reference signed: March 2025
• Targeted CEPA conclusion: end of 2026

🔑 Key Term: CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) — a wide-ranging free trade agreement covering trade in goods, services, investment, IPR, dispute resolution and economic cooperation; goes deeper than a standard FTA.