In a startling twist of events, Canada has unceremoniously suspended deliberations on a prospective trade accord with India, a mere three months following the shared commitment of both nations to reach a preliminary agreement within this calendar year.
Canada and India have engaged intermittently since the inception of 2010 in negotiations concerning a far-reaching economic partnership treaty. Last year marked the formal reinvigoration of these discussions.
A spokesperson for the Canadian government, speaking under conditions of anonymity, offered a cryptic statement to the press, alluding to the protracted and intricate nature of trade negotiations. This unforeseen pause coincides with the impending visit of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to New Delhi next week, lending an air of ambiguity to the situation.
India’s envoy to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, revealed that Ottawa had, without elucidation, sought this suspension within the past month. This obfuscation further deepens the perplexity surrounding the abrupt cessation of talks.
It bears mention that in May of this year, both India and Canada publicly declared their aspirations to finalize an initial agreement, thereby fostering amplified trade and investment prospects. Furthermore, this envisioned accord was to include a dispute resolution mechanism.
In a recent development, a senior Indian trade official divulged that New Delhi intends to engage in bilateral free trade discussions with Canada and other nations on the sidelines of an impending G20 summit, which Prime Minister Trudeau is scheduled to attend.
As of now, neither the office of Prime Minister Trudeau nor the Office of Trade Minister Mary Ng has proffered any immediate comment on this unforeseen turn of events.
Source reuters
