Canadian High Commissioner Chris Cooter said a CEPA deal with India by year-end is realistic because the political will is there, negotiators have already been working, and businesses on both sides want a larger trade relationship. He framed the agreement as more than tariff reduction: it should expand trade, protect IP, and signal that both countries are open for business.
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This short interview centers on Canada-India trade negotiations, especially the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Chris Cooter argues that the year-end target for concluding negotiations is realistic because both prime ministers want the deal, negotiators have already been active over the last few months, and there is broad business support behind it. He repeatedly frames the relationship as underdeveloped relative to the size of the two economies, pointing to the opportunity for much larger trade and investment flows. Cooter’s core thesis is that CEPA would not just lower tariffs, but serve as a broader signal of intent. He says it would cover practical frictions such as tariffs, help protect intellectual property, and support sectors like advanced manufacturing, research, agriculture, critical minerals, defense, and aerospace. …
Tactically, the setup is mildly constructive for India-Canada trade-sensitive sectors if CEPA headlines keep improving, but the trade is still headline-driven and vulnerable to delays or diplomatic noise.
Over the next few months, the base case is incremental negotiation progress and stronger business signaling, with validation coming from concrete milestones rather than rhetoric. If talks stall or the bilateral mood deteriorates, the optimism case loses force quickly.
Structurally, the interview points to a potentially larger India-Canada trade regime built on freer trade, IP protection, and cross-border investment. The lasting thesis is underpenetrated bilateral commerce, but it depends on sustained political alignment and execution.
Concluding the India-Canada CEPA by the end of this year is realistic.
The speaker argues that both prime ministers want the agreement, negotiators have already been discussing it for months, and there is strong political and business support behind it.
The current commercial relationship between Canada and India is modest relative to the size of the two economies, leaving substantial untapped potential in sectors like critical minerals, defense, and aerospace.
He points to the existing investment base and trade links but says the relationship is far below what the scale of the economies would justify, especially in specific strategic sectors.
A CEPA between India and Canada will likely expand bilateral trade materially, with both sides aiming to double trade by 2030.
The speaker says trade is currently respectable but much too small relative to the scale of the two economies, and that the two prime ministers have already set a doubling target for 2030.
How realistic is it to conclude the CEPA by the end of the year, and what are your expectations?
He says the timeline is very realistic because both prime ministers want it, negotiators have been actively discussing it, and the political will is there. He also argues that business communities on both sides want it and see strong commercial potential.
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