Given Escalating Tensions, Canada Postpones Its Trade Mission To India

An official stated on Friday that Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng is postponing a trade visit to India scheduled for October, indicating increasingly difficult diplomatic relations just days after India’s prime minister chastised his Canadian colleague at the G20 conference in New Delhi.

“At this time, we are postponing the upcoming trade mission to India”, said Shanti Cosentino, the minister’s spokesperson, without explaining why.

During the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held formal bilateral meetings with numerous world leaders, snubbed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, permitting only a brief, informal meeting on the sidelines five days ago.

Canada has the greatest number of Sikhs outside of their home state of Punjab in India, and the country has been the site of numerous rallies that have irritated India.

“They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship”, India’s government stated following the meeting.

Earlier on Friday, India announced the suspension of trade discussions with Canada. Canada announced a similar moratorium earlier this month, saying it was necessary to take stock.

Only four months ago, the two countries stated that they hoped to sign a preliminary trade agreement this year.

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