Frosty ties prompt Canada to call off trade mission to India
- Trade Minister Mary Ng had planned to go to Mumbai beginning October 9 to focus on sectors including automobiles and agriculture
- The decision follows a contentious meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and India’s Modi during the recent G20 summit in New Delhi
Canada is postponing a trade mission to India that was planned for early October, a move that comes as broader trade talks between the two countries have stalled.
It also follows a contentious meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent G20 summit in New Delhi.
Modi’s office publicly criticised Trudeau after the meeting for allegedly tolerating “anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada,” while Trudeau said he raised concerns over foreign interference in Canadian politics.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng gave no explanation for calling off the trade mission, and did not give a future date for sending one. The trip had been planned to go to Mumbai beginning October 9, and focus on sectors including automobiles, agriculture and information technology.
“At this time, we are postponing the coming trade mission to India,” said Alice Hansen, Ng’s spokesperson. “In the next year we will be taking businesses to Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam.”
Canada and India had also been holding formal talks toward signing an early progress trade agreement, but soon before Trudeau’s trip to India it was revealed those talks have been paused.