Canada Stands Firm on Trade Strategy as Energy Minister Heads to India

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Ottawa: Canada reaffirmed its determination to expand trade beyond its historic reliance on the United States, dispatching Energy Minister Tim Hodgson to India this week for high‑level discussions with New Delhi’s leadership and industry officials. The move comes as Ottawa seeks new commercial horizons amid mounting pressure from Washington over trade policy.

 Canada’s ambitious plan to broaden its export destinations is central to its new economic strategy. Foreign Minister Anita Anand underscored Ottawa’s commitment to this shift, asserting that the country will not let recent rhetoric from the U.S. derail its plans. Canada aims to double non‑U.S. exports over the next decade, with India featuring prominently in that roadmap.

 In an interview on Canadian broadcast networks, Anand said the diversification push is essential “to protect and empower the Canadian economy and trade diversification is fundamental to that,” signalling that engagement with India and other markets is a core pillar of Canada’s future trade architecture.

 Minister Hodgson’s itinerary in India includes participation in an energy conference in Goa, consultations with officials from Indian ministries, and meetings with business leaders to explore cooperation on critical minerals, uranium and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors where Canada holds considerable resource advantages.

 Ottawa’s commitment to this broader strategy takes place against a backdrop of recent tensions with Washington. U.S. political leaders have publicly threatened steep tariffs on Canadian goods in response to policy moves, a development Canadian officials characterise as political grandstanding rather than grounded economic strategy. Analysts caution, however, that any escalation in formal tariffs would still pose serious risks for Canada’s tightly integrated North American supply chains.

 The broader Canada‑India bilateral relationship has been warming up after previously strained ties. Leaders from both countries have signalled readiness to resume advanced trade talks and pursue deeper cooperation across sectors like clean energy, digital technology and infrastructure, building on momentum from high‑level meetings in 2025.

 From India’s perspective, expanding ties with Canada aligns with New Delhi’s own trade agenda, which includes negotiating free‑trade arrangements with several global partners and slashing tariffs under emerging deals with the European Union. These developments could further create space for enhanced Canada‑India economic exchange.

 The strategic pivot also resonates with Washington’s allies. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently extended Republic Day greetings to India, highlighting strong cooperation in defence, energy and technology, and affirming a multilateral environment in which diversified partnerships matter for global stability.

 As Energy Minister Hodgson advances Canada’s agenda in India, Ottawa hopes the visit will lay groundwork for substantive commercial pacts and mutual investment flows, especially in sectors like clean energy and critical minerals key ingredients for both countries’ long‑term economic and climate priorities.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is also expected to follow up with a visit to India, furthering diplomatic and trade objectives and underscoring the central role of the India market in Ottawa’s diversification strategy.