Following a previous ‘pause’ on the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), the Canadian Government has now called off a trade mission to India, initially slated for October, as trade talks are suspended and worries grow over pro-Khalistan activities.
The decision was made public by the media on Friday, citing the office of Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, which did not provide a reason for the delay. An Indian senior official revealed that the media was their only source of information about the decision.
New Delhi officials suspended trade discussions as a response to the tolerance of subversive activities on Canadian soil. “New Delhi will not engage in trade talks with any country that allows subversive activities against India or its people,” a senior official informed the Hindustan Times.
The trade mission had been announced during a bilateral visit to Canada by Commerce and Industry Ministry Piyush Goyal in May. This recent development is a reflection of the worsening relationship between the two nations due to Canada’s tolerance of pro-Khalistan activities.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously communicated his strong apprehensions about the ongoing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the G20 leaders’ summit. Shortly thereafter, the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice hastily organized a so-called Khalistan Referendum in Surrey, British Columbia, and scheduled another round of voting for October 29.
Despite this setback, Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, remains optimistic about the future of relations between Canada and India. “Canada and India share a deeply rooted and mutually beneficial economic partnership with a strong history and a bright future. We expect this relationship to continue irrespective of political tensions that may occur from time to time,” he stated. Hyder also noted that disputes tend to resolve themselves in other bilateral relations.
The indefinite delay of the trade mission highlights the ongoing challenges both nations face as they attempt to navigate political tensions while preserving economic ties. It is yet to be determined how Canada and India will address these challenges in the upcoming months.
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