Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely to visit India in the first week of March, with several agreements expected to be signed across energy, minerals, nuclear cooperation and emerging technologies, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, told Reuters.
The proposed visit would mark a key step in Canada’s push to diversify its trade and strategic partnerships beyond the United States, which remains its largest trading partner.
According to Patnaik, Carney is expected to finalise a package of agreements with India covering uranium supply, oil and gas, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, as well as cooperation in education and culture. A 10-year uranium supply agreement valued at around 2.8 billion Canadian dollars is also likely to be signed.
Canada’s Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, who is in India this week, said discussions would include nuclear cooperation under the existing Canada–India nuclear agreement, subject to international safeguards. He added that energy and mining would be central to the talks, including the possibility of crude oil and LNG transactions.
Reset with India, CEPA talks to begin
Carney is also seeking to reset relations with India after ties deteriorated under his predecessor Justin Trudeau, who had accused the Indian government of involvement in the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—an allegation New Delhi has strongly denied.
Formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada are expected to begin in March, Patnaik said. Trade talks had remained stalled for nearly two years before both sides agreed to revive them in November. He added that the agreement could be concluded within a year of negotiations starting.
Push beyond US amid global uncertainty
Carney has made diversifying Canada’s trade relationships a priority, arguing that the global rules-based order is weakening. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, he urged middle powers to come together to help shape a more resilient global system.
The push comes amid growing trade uncertainty, including recent warnings from US President Donald Trump of steep tariffs if Canada were to enter into trade deals with China. Patnaik said India and Canada are moving quickly to build new partnerships in response to shifting global trade dynamics.
High-level visits, security talks ahead
Patnaik said India’s National Security Advisor is expected to visit Ottawa next month for intelligence-sharing and security-related discussions. He also said Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are likely to travel to Canada in the coming weeks.
On the Nijjar case, Patnaik said court proceedings are ongoing in Canada against four accused individuals. He added that India would take appropriate action if evidence were to emerge linking any Indian nationals to the killing.