Ottawa: Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, Mary Ng, hinted at the possibility of re-establishing high-level contact with India for trade discussions during an interview aired on CTV News.
Ng disclosed that she anticipates meeting her Indian counterpart, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, at the upcoming World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial in Abu Dhabi, commencing on Monday.
However, while the ministerial rendezvous presents an opportunity for dialogue, Ng emphasized that there is no definitive timeline for resuming negotiations over the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) between India and Canada.
The trade talks, initiated in March 2022 during Ng’s visit to New Delhi, were halted in late August amid diplomatic tensions triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks regarding alleged links between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.
Despite the pause in discussions, Ng expressed optimism about continued business activities between Canada and India, highlighting encouraging signs in ongoing investigations. Recent engagements, such as Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s visit to India to bolster trade ties, underscore the commitment to fostering bilateral relations.
Ng reassured Canadian enterprises conducting business with India of continued support and emphasized the importance of maintaining robust trade relations.
Meanwhile, India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, stated during a media event in Toronto that both nations were on the verge of finalizing the EPTA before communication regarding the pause came from the Canadian side.
