India-Canada Diplomatic Thaw: Delhi and Ottawa Agree to Resume High-Level Trade Talks, CEO Forum

NEW DELHI – India and Canada have formally agreed on a series of steps aimed at fully restoring bilateral relations that were frozen in 2023 following a severe diplomatic crisis.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, on her first official visit to India, met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, concluding a pivotal round of talks that signals a decisive thaw.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the visit, stating it would strengthen “efforts to impart new momentum” to the partnership, which had reached a low point after then-Canadian PM Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil—a claim Delhi denied.

The joint statement released after the Foreign Ministers’ meeting outlines a new roadmap focused heavily on economic revival and strategic alignment:

Resumption of Ministerial Trade Talks: Both sides will “commence, at an early date, ministerial-level discussions on bilateral trade and investment.”

Reviving the CEO Forum: The Canada–India CEO Forum will be reactivated, bringing together leading business executives to identify avenues for increased bilateral trade and investment in key sectors.

The countries committed to advancing their relationship, particularly concerning “mutual priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The Ministers agreed to progressively increase the institutional capacity of their High Commissions and Consulates, a step toward reversing the expulsion of top diplomats by both nations during the 2023 crisis.

Minister Jaishankar highlighted the complementary nature of the relationship, noting that Canada is an “open society… diversity and pluralism” is the “basis for a close sustainable and long-term co-operative framework.”

Minister Anand echoed this, stating, “We are collectively committed to advancing this relationship now and in the long term.”

The move comes after months of incremental progress since the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took office. Signs of warming ties began in June when Carney and Modi held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit, followed by the appointment of new high commissioners in August.

For India, reviving strong economic ties with Canada is especially timely as New Delhi grapples with a punitive 50% tariff recently imposed on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump. A stronger partnership is expected to help both nations “mitigate vulnerabilities arising from shifting global alliances,” the joint statement affirmed.

Minister Anand is scheduled to meet India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for in-depth discussions on boosting trade before heading to Mumbai to engage with business leaders. Following her visit to India, the Foreign Minister will travel to China and Singapore as part of Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific Strategy.