Mark Carney says PM Modi will visit Canada in December: 'Looking forward to hosting him'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada in December, his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney has said. The two countries are seeking to conclude a trade deal by the end of the year.

Carney said India-Canada trade negotiations were making “good progress” and described the bilateral relationship as “exceptionally important” on several fronts.

“We're making good progress in our trade negotiations with India. It is an exceptionally important relationship, on many, many levels…He (PM Modi) will be visiting Canada around that time. I very much look forward to hosting him,” Carney said at a news briefing on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

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India-Canada trade talks

The two countries are looking to fast-track negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the fifth round of talks scheduled to begin on October 5.

Commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that he concluded the fourth round of negotiations with Canadian international trade minister Maninder Sidhu in Mumbai.

“Very productive discussions and both sides have resolved to fast-track negotiations,” Goyal said, adding that the next 90 days would be a “very defining period” for India-Canada relations.

Investment protection pact by the end of 2026?

The trade negotiations are also being accompanied by efforts to strengthen investment ties. In August, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India and Canada could complete an investment protection agreement by the end of 2026.

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During her visit to Toronto, Sitharaman said the two countries would “try to finish the investor protection agreement by the end of this year”. The timeline would depend on discussions with her Canadian counterpart Francois-Philippe Champagne, she added.

Sitharaman said India “moved ahead in having a very open-minded, progressive approach towards investment protection” and added that “financial investment protection” was a “very important subject” for New Delhi.

“I believe India and Canada are the most natural partners in the world,” she said.

India-Canada ties improve

The renewed trade push comes after a period of diplomatic strain between the two countries during the tenure of former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

The two countries resumed trade talks in 2025 and later launched a fresh CEPA process. Modi and Carney also met during Carney’s visit to India in March 2026. The two leaders agreed to speed up trade talks and strengthen cooperation in areas such as energy, technology, artificial intelligence, defence and talent.