Canada's Carney Visits India to Boost Trade
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will land in Mumbai on Friday for his inaugural official trip to India, aiming to mend the occasionally strained ties with the most populous nation while pursuing new international partnerships.
Carney will engage with business leaders in Mumbai and initiate discussions on a broad trade pact, anticipated to be finalized by November, according to his foreign minister.
He is set to continue on to New Delhi for discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Carney has aimed for stronger relationships with China, Middle Eastern nations, and India, as he works to lessen Canada’s reliance on the United States and establish a new global trade framework guided by what he defines as middle-power nations.
Relations between Canada and India deteriorated years ago following serious accusations from then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government had connections to the murder of a Canadian citizen who was a notable Sikh separatist. India has consistently rejected any such connections. In contrast to various past Canadian leaders, such as Trudeau, Carney will not visit India's Punjab area, which is a significant source of Indian immigration to Canada.
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Sikh separatists have advocated for a separate state in Punjab, and a visit there could annoy Carney's Indian hosts. Analysts indicate that the action reflects a more realistic foreign policy that seeks to draw Canada away from the United States, driven by President Donald Trump's trade war and threats of annexation.
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"The Prime Minister's attention is sharply directed towards drawing investment to Canada, rather than catering to the Indian diaspora abroad," stated Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada.
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"This business trip focuses on enhancing the economy to provide Canadians with greater economic independence," he stated, describing the strategy as a major change from the Trudeau administration. Last month, the European Union and India finalized a groundbreaking trade agreement to reduce tariffs on the majority of goods, increasing hopes that India could soon finalize a similar arrangement with Canada.