No Trade Talks With India Until New Delhi Cooperates in Probe of Sikh Leader’s Murder: Minister Ng

Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Minister Mary Ng speaks with reporters in San Francisco on Nov. 15, 2023. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

International Trade Minister Mary Ng is refraining from commenting on the resumption of Canada-India trade talks, citing the government’s focus on investigating allegations linking India to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.

“Right now, the focus for Canada is to let the work of the investigation proceed,” Ms. Ng said during a press briefing on Nov. 15 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which ran from Nov. 11 to Nov. 17 in San Francisco. Her comment was in response to a question on whether there will be a resumption of trade talks between the two countries.

“That’s really important because you’ve heard me and the government talk about how important it is that that investigation happens given that we had a Canadian killed on Canadian soil.”

A trade mission to India, originally slated for Ms. Ng’s visit to Mumbai in October, was postponed in September, the same month Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that India may be implicated in the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, a charge India denies. There has been a swift deterioration in bilateral relations since Mr. Trudeau’s claims.

India ranks as one of Canada’s top trading partners. According to Statistics Canada data for 2022, Canada’s exports from India in all sectors were worth $5.3 billion US, while imports totalled $8.3 billion US.

The Epoch Times reached out to Global Affairs but did not receive an answer by press time.

Canada’s Exclusion

Ms. Ng faced questions during the press conference about Canada’s trade relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. These inquiries stem from Canada’s ongoing exclusion from significant trade talks related to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a 14-nation group announced by U.S. President Joe Biden in May of last year.

Despite expressing interest in joining the group in 2022, Canada remains excluded this year.

In response to inquiries about Canada’s absence from the IPEF, Ms. Ng said, “I welcome the opportunity to join [the IPCEF] when the time is right.”

She pointed to another international trade agreement in the Indo-Pacific region, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Canada was a founding member when it was established in 2018.

“Many of the economies that are part of IPEF are part of CPTPP,” she said, adding that Canada is currently negotiating with members of the IPEF. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that we have trading relationships, and we are doing trade with many of these economies, including with the United States. So we welcome the opportunity to join [the IPEF] when that time is right.”

Mr. Biden announced key outcomes of the IPEF discussion on Nov. 16. He addressed issues including boosting trade and investment, dealing with vulnerable supply chains, clean energy transitions, and tackling corruption, according to a White House statement.

The 14 nations participating in IPEF are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, the United States, and Vietnam. Collectively, these countries account for 40 percent of the global gross domestic product and 28 percent of global goods and services trade.

Noé Chartier and The Canadian Press contributed to this report