India Halts Trade Negotiations with Canada

India has halted trade negotiations with Canada due to disagreements over certain issues. This was reported by India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, to Firstpost.

Earlier, the Indian Ambassador to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, had stated that the negotiations had reached a stalemate. The minister's announcement came after Canada canceled a trade mission to India that was set to arrive in Mumbai in early October. The mission was expected to focus on agriculture, food, digital technology, and infrastructure issues.

“We have suspended trade dialogue with Canada. We need to ensure that we are on the same wavelength geopolitically and economically. Certain issues that are causing serious concern were highlighted during the bilateral meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Justin Trudeau,” the minister noted.

India and Canada have gone through six rounds of negotiations regarding a trade agreement. It is noteworthy that Canada has announced the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat. In response, India has also decided to expel a senior Canadian diplomat from the country. Furthermore, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has denied these allegations, calling them absurd. India views the Canadian government’s statements as an attempt to divert attention from Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have sought refuge.