Canada’s trade minister, who is visiting India, said Ottawa wants to attract more investment from New Delhi.
Published November 13, 2025
The trade minister said Canada wants to rebuild its relationship with India, a major trading partner, as the two countries seek to resolve years of diplomatic disputes related to the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada.
Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu told Reuters on Thursday that he had productive talks with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
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“The talks went very well. We focused on areas of opportunity such as aerospace, AI, critical minerals, energy, agriculture, and what more we can do together,” Sidhu, who is on a three-day trip to India, said after the meeting.
The minister’s visit marks one of the highest trade deals between Canada and India since negotiations on a bilateral agreement were suspended in 2023 over accusations that India was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
Then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was a “credible link” between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
New Delhi vehemently denied the allegations, prompting both governments to expel each other’s diplomats. India has also suspended visa issuance in Canada.
Despite the accusations, Trudeau’s successor, Prime Minister Mark Carney, has sought to restore relations with India since taking office earlier this year.
Mr. Carney met Mr. Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, in June.
The two leaders “reaffirmed the importance of a Canada-India relationship based on mutual respect, the rule of law, and a commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” according to a statement released by Carney’s office.
“The two leaders agreed to appoint a new High Commissioner with the aim of returning to normal service to the peoples and businesses of both countries.”
Thursday’s talks in New Delhi come as both India and Canada face increasing economic uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump’s hefty tariffs.
Canadian Trade Minister Sidhu told Reuters that Carney’s government is keen to increase cooperation with India to attract investment in energy and critical minerals sectors.
“Canada has all the elements needed to manufacture batteries,” Sidhu said, adding that Ottawa would welcome investment from New Delhi in important mineral extraction and infrastructure projects.
