CANADA-FTA Talks Relaunched, Note Fertilizer Trade Amid Russia Trade Halt

The Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and Canada's International Trade Minister Mary Ng have released a statement saying that talks on a fully-fledged trade deal between the two nations (the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)) will be restarted. They also agreed that the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), could be implemented in the interim until a full deal is agreed.

• Full statement: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1805112
• At present, Canada and India's trading relationship accounts for approx 1% of each nations's annual export total.
• From the statement: "The Ministers welcomed the export in potash from Canada to India and collaboration within the sector, demonstrating Canada as a strategic and reliable partner."
• Nations becoming increasingly concerned about the global supply of potash and other fertilizers, given that a sizeable proportion of the world's supply comes from Russia and Belarus. Kremlin has put a temporary export ban on fertilizers, meaning ensuring supplies from elsewhere crucial amid soaring global food prices.