Canada envoy signals the final text of trade pact near ahead of Prime Minister Modi upcoming visit, according to a report on Thursday. Canadian High Commissioner Christopher Cooter said the two sides are close to completing the text, with the sixth round of talks coming up.
Why it matters
The actual ratification would take some time because provincial governments are involved as well, Cooter told the Times of India. The provinces have a role in trade agreements, and their involvement means the process will run beyond the signing of the text itself.
The thaw in ties has been rapid since Prime Minister Mark Carney assumed office. The envoy described a trajectory that defied initial caution, with the two countries moving from a strained relationship to a trade negotiation in a matter of months. Beyond trade and mobility, Cooter noted that several other areas of cooperation are being discussed.
What happens next
The pact fits Carney wider strategy of diversifying Canada partnerships. With trade talks with Washington collapsed and tariffs in place, Ottawa is building alternatives in Europe and Asia at the same time. India is the largest of those alternatives, and a completed text would be a concrete result.
For now, the text is near but not finished. The sixth round of talks will decide whether the remaining gaps can be closed, and the visit will show whether the political will matches the negotiators progress.
The thaw in ties has been rapid since Prime Minister Mark Carney assumed office, with the envoy describing a trajectory that defied initial caution. Beyond trade and mobility, Cooter noted that several other areas of cooperation are being discussed, and the two countries are moving from a strained relationship to a trade negotiation in a matter of months. The pact fits Carney wider strategy of diversifying Canada partnerships, with trade talks with Washington collapsed and tariffs in place. India is the largest of those alternatives, and a completed text would be a concrete result. The sixth round of talks will decide whether the remaining gaps can be closed before the visit.
