Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Canada in December 2026, a trip confirmed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The upcoming visit is expected to culminate in the signing of a long-anticipated Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two nations.
Trade Deal Negotiations Progressing
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Carney indicated that negotiations for the CEPA are making “good progress.” Both Ottawa and New Delhi are pushing to finalize the talks by the time of the G20 summit in Miami, scheduled for mid-December.
Indian officials have separately suggested that the trade agreement could be ready for signing as early as November, paving the way for PM Modi’s visit the following month.
“We’re making good progress in our trade negotiations with India. It is an exceptionally important relationship, on many, many levels, people-to-people levels, security levels, and also trade and economics. PM Modi will be visiting Canada around that time. I very much look forward to hosting him,” Carney stated.
The fifth round of CEPA negotiations is set to commence on October 5, with Indian negotiators traveling to Canada for discussions expected to last until October 9. Both countries have reiterated their commitment to concluding these negotiations by the end of 2026, a goal set after the formal relaunch of the CEPA process during Carney's visit to India in March.
Boosting Bilateral Trade
Bilateral trade between India and Canada reached approximately $8 billion in the fiscal year 2025-26, according to India’s Commerce Ministry. This figure comprised $4.67 billion in Indian exports and $3.28 billion in imports from Canada. A key ambition for both nations is to significantly boost this figure, targeting an increase in bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.
Thaw in Diplomatic Ties
This confirmed visit marks another significant step in the normalization and strengthening of India-Canada relations. Ties had experienced a downturn in 2023 following the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Prime Minister Carney’s visit to India in March was the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister since 2018. During a meeting in June, PM Modi had thanked Carney for the invitation to visit Canada in 2026, setting the stage for the upcoming December trip. While the broad timeframe for PM Modi’s visit has been indicated, the precise dates are still being finalized through diplomatic channels to ensure a mutually convenient schedule.