GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

• As India ramps up its international outreach in the year of its G-20 presidency, better ties with Canada are clearly on the agenda for the government and External affairs ministers’ remarks for the bilateral talks in New Delhi with Canadian counterpart becomes evident.

India’s tilt for Canada:

• Reason for the acceleration in relations: Canada’s deteriorating ties with China and its announcement for a new Indo-Pacific Strategy which marked out China as an “increasingly disruptive global power”, while referring to India as a “critical partner” with shared traditions of democracy and pluralism.
• Search for new market: Canada’s search for new markets to diversify its considerable economic engagement with China coincides with India’s push to conclude free trade agreements with many countries. 
• Expecting bilateral engagements: The officials have been working to announce an “Early Progress Trade Agreement” by this year, they are also hopeful of securing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement soon.