Modi and Carney Push India-Canada Trade Pact, Modi to Visit Canada in Decemberਮੋਦੀ-ਕਾਰਨੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ: ਭਾਰਤ-ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਵਪਾਰ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ 'ਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ, ਦਸੰਬਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੋਦੀ ਦਾ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੌਰਾ

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke by phone on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and agreed to build on the renewed momentum in India-Canada ties, with a push to conclude a trade agreement at the earliest opportunity and a planned visit by Modi to Canada in December.

The call came during a busy week for the relationship. Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, is leading a large Team Canada Trade Mission in India, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand is in New Delhi this week for talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. For Punjabi families split between Punjab and Canada, the people-to-people side of the reset is the part that lands closest to home.

What did the two leaders agree on?

According to the official Canadian readout of the call, the two prime ministers welcomed the increased engagement between the two countries over the past year in areas including finance, defence and security, people-to-people ties and artificial intelligence. They reaffirmed a commitment to conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA, at the earliest opportunity, supporting efforts to double two-way trade by 2030.

Modi, in a post on X after the call, described the conversation as warm and productive and listed trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people ties as the key areas of the strategic partnership where the two sides want concrete outcomes.

What else did they discuss?

The readout said the leaders discussed the impact of geopolitical instability on the Indo-Pacific region and the need for trusted partners in energy and agriculture. Carney thanked Modi for his leadership in seeking a peaceful resolution to Russia's war in Ukraine. The two also welcomed the bilateral security dialogue held in India last week as part of ongoing engagement between the two countries at the National Security Advisor level, and agreed to stay in close contact ahead of Modi's visit to Canada in December.

Why is Anita Anand in Delhi this week?

Anand is visiting India and the United Arab Emirates from October 13 to 16, according to Global Affairs Canada. In New Delhi she will meet Jaishankar to advance work on the bilateral roadmap, including trade, energy, people-to-people ties and security and defence cooperation. Ottawa says it will be the eleventh meeting between the two foreign ministers since September 2025. Anand will also take part in a panel at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on middle powers and the changing global order.

How far has the relationship come?

Ties between India and Canada were severely strained in 2023, after the government of then prime minister Justin Trudeau raised allegations of a possible Indian link to the killing in Surrey, British Columbia, of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which India rejected. Engagement has rebuilt steadily since. Earlier on Tuesday, Canada's High Commissioner to India, Christopher Cooter, told IANS that the chemistry between Modi and Carney was excellent and that the two countries had never had as good a relationship as they do now, noting the two leaders have met four times in just over a year.

Why does this matter for Punjabis in Canada?

Canada is home to one of the largest Punjabi communities outside India, concentrated in cities such as Brampton, Surrey, Calgary and Winnipeg. Trade, student movement, family visits and direct flights all run through the state of the bilateral relationship, so a leaders-level push on trade and people-to-people ties, followed by a prime ministerial visit in December, is closely watched news in Punjab and across the diaspora.

When is Modi visiting Canada?

The Canadian readout says the two leaders agreed to remain in close contact ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Canada in December 2026. An exact date has not been announced in the readout.

What is the CEPA target?

The leaders reaffirmed a commitment to conclude CEPA negotiations at the earliest opportunity, supporting efforts to double two-way trade by 2030, according to the official Canadian readout.

Who else is in India from Canada this week?

Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is leading the Team Canada Trade Mission in India, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand is in New Delhi for talks with S. Jaishankar and a Bloomberg New Economy Forum panel, before travelling on to the UAE.