India and Canada Revive Bilateral Relations Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty

Strategic Insights -

Amid the ongoing strain in ties with the US over tariffs and global economic uncertainty, India on Monday signalled the revival of bilateral relations with Canada as the two sides agreed on a roadmap to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, civil nuclear collaboration, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy. Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who reached New Delhi on Sunday, held talks on Monday with her counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi before leaving for Mumbai at night.

Key Takeaways:

  • The two countries agreed on a roadmap to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, civil nuclear collaboration, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy.
  • India and Canada agreed to start ministerial-level discussions on bilateral trade and investment, resume the India-Canada CEOs Forum in early 2026, and revive the energy dialogue.
  • The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in education, tourism, cultural exchange, and professional mobility.
  • They decided to "refresh" collaboration in higher education and research to reflect the increasingly deep talent pools and cutting-edge research in each country.
  • India and Canada agreed to re-establish the Canada-India Ministerial Energy Dialogue (CIMED), promote two-way trade for LNG & LPG, and investment in oil and gas exploration and production sector.
  • The two sides welcomed "ongoing discussions in civil nuclear cooperation in support of clean energy transitions" and discussions between India's Department of Atomic Energy and Canadian uranium suppliers.
  • Canada and India agreed to hold the first Critical Minerals Annual Dialogue on the margins of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto in March 2026.
  • The two countries decided to relaunch the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, foster mutually beneficial partnerships to expand access to AI for everyone, and encourage Canadian companies and researchers to participate in India's forthcoming AI Impact Summit.
  • Prime Minister Modi welcomed Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, saying that the meeting in New Delhi was a follow-up to the guidance provided by the Prime Ministers of the two countries to take calibrated measures to restore stability in the relationship.
  • The joint statement stressed that India and Canada have a long tradition of being active in world affairs and are strong proponents of effective multilateralism, climate action, and SDG Agenda 2030.

Statistics:

  • In 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade coming to $33.9 billion.
  • Canada's merchandise exports to India totalled $5.3 billion.
  • The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in education, with a focus on higher education and research.
  • They decided to hold the first Critical Minerals Annual Dialogue on the margins of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto in March 2026.

Sources:

  • "Canada, India Agree on New Roadmap for Bilateral Relations Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty", India Today, 25 August 2025.
  • "India and Canada Revive Bilateral Relations Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty", The Economic Times, 25 August 2025.
  • "Canada and India agree on new roadmap for bilateral relations", The Globe and Mail, 25 August 2025.
  • "India, Canada to revive bilateral ties, agree on new roadmap", CNN-News18, 25 August 2025.