Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit India in the upcoming weeks to strengthen economic ties between the two nations amid the ongoing trade tensions instigated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The visit, as confirmed by India’s High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Patnaik during an interview with CBC’s Power & Politics host David Cochrane, is scheduled after India presents its budget on February 1. Patnaik emphasized the restored trust in the diplomatic relations, highlighting the efforts to make up for lost time due to a previous strain in the relationship, dating back to the allegations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2023 linking Indian agents to the extrajudicial killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
The rift caused a significant setback in Canada-India relations, which has gradually begun to mend in recent months. Despite the accusations, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged extrajudicial killings on Canadian soil. Notably, four Indian nationals residing in Canada have been accused of carrying out the killing of Nijjar, but Patnaik clarified that there is no evidence against the Government of India, attributing the accusations to the previous administration.
The upcoming visit by Prime Minister Carney follows a mutual commitment by the leaders of both countries to initiate negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), announced during their meeting at the G20 Summit in South Africa last November. This agreement aims to address the challenges posed by high U.S. tariffs, with both countries currently facing significant tariffs, particularly India, which is affected by a 50% tariff due to its purchase of Russian oil. Patnaik stressed the mutual economic benefits for both nations and the necessity of deepening cooperation in various sectors such as energy, agriculture, innovation, aerospace, defense, and research and development.
Additionally, the visit by Carney is part of a series of diplomatic efforts by Canadian ministers, including Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, who have all conducted trade missions to India in recent months. These missions signify a thaw in relations under Carney’s leadership, as both countries seek to realign their economic partnerships amidst the trade disputes with the United States. Following the visit to India, Carney is scheduled to embark on a significant trade mission to China, marking another milestone in the efforts to re-establish diplomatic ties with key global partners.
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