Modi to visit Canada in December as Carney signals progress on India trade talks

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Canada in December as Ottawa and New Delhi make progress on trade negotiations.

“We are making good progress in our trade negotiations with India,” Carney told reporters at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

“It is an exceptionally important relationship on many, many levels.”

The visit comes as Canada and India rebuild relations following years of tensions over Canadian allegations of foreign interference and transnational repression. Free-trade negotiations, previously put on hold, have since resumed.

Carney also addressed Canada’s potash industry after US President Donald Trump announced plans to seek cheaper supplies from Belarus.

“My message to the Canadian potash industry is one of admiration. Canada supplies 40 per cent of the world’s potash. It is an incredible strength of our economy,” Carney said.

Trump later confirmed the US would continue purchasing Canadian potash despite exploring Belarusian supplies.

“We’ll continue to go with Canada, but Belarus would like to sell it for a much lower price,” Trump told reporters.

Carney said Canada would remain a reliable, cost-competitive potash supplier and called for greater North American co-operation on fertiliser production.