Business leaders continue to grapple with fallout from the rift between the Canadian and Indian governments, saying the suspension of free trade talks helps no one.

The souring relationship marks a major hurdle to boosting bilateral trade beyond last year香蕉视频直播檚 $20.9 billion in goods and services and deters Indian students from studying in Canada, commercial groups say.

香蕉视频直播淪topping any trade discussion or trade negotiation doesn香蕉视频直播檛 make sense. How will that help us as a country?香蕉视频直播� asked Satish Thakkar, chairman of the Canada India Foundation. Canada halted trade treaty talks on Sept. 1.

香蕉视频直播淭his is the biggest fall in Canada-India relations since the 1970s.香蕉视频直播�

They rapidly deteriorated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament on Sept. 18 that New Delhi may have been involved in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh independence activist who was shot dead in June outside the gurdwara he led in Surrey, B.C.

In response, the Indian government suspended visa services for Canadian citizens 香蕉视频直播� partially restored last month 香蕉视频直播� and revoked diplomatic immunity from Canadian diplomats, prompting two-thirds of them to leave the country.

The trade potential between Canada and India 香蕉视频直播� the world香蕉视频直播檚 most populous nation and fastest growing large economy 香蕉视频直播� remain largely unrealized, observers say. India remains Canada香蕉视频直播檚 eighth-largest trading partner, well behind the U.S. and China.

Negotiations on the would-be Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement launched in 2010 before foundering in 2017. They resumed in 2022, with the goal of reaching a deal this year.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada says the treaty could increase two-way trade by up to $8.8 billion by 2035 and result in a Canadian GDP gain of up to $5.9 billion. Canada香蕉视频直播檚 mineral, agriculture, chemicals and wood product sectors could all see sizable export boosts.

香蕉视频直播淭here is a lot of complementarity between what Canada has and India needs,香蕉视频直播� said Victor Thomas, CEO of the Canada-India Business Council. 香蕉视频直播淚T services, for example 香蕉视频直播� a huge growth in very specific talent that, again, complements our economy that India can provide.

Of the 32,115 international tech workers who migrated to Canada between April 2022 and March 2023, nearly half 香蕉视频直播� 15,097 香蕉视频直播� came from India, a July report from the Technology Councils of North America and Canada香蕉视频直播檚 Tech Network found.

香蕉视频直播淭his relationship is extremely important,香蕉视频直播� Thomas said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut businesses like predictability and stability.香蕉视频直播�

The frayed relations mean 香蕉视频直播渦ncertainty prevails,香蕉视频直播� sowing doubt among some Indian students who were considering post-secondary education in Canada, said Thakkar. At 40 per cent, that talent pool makes up the largest portion of the country香蕉视频直播檚 international student body.

香蕉视频直播淭hey are becoming the main source of the workforce, and entrepreneurs also. We come across international students who then got (permanent resident status) and today own multiple businesses,香蕉视频直播� Thakkar said, noting Canada香蕉视频直播檚 aging population.

香蕉视频直播淏ack home, our family and friends say, 香蕉视频直播業 was thinking of sending our son or daughter to Canada, but we are rethinking now.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

The current lack of Canadian diplomats in the subcontinent only adds to study permit application woes, he said.

Efforts to mend the frayed relationship continue. This Friday, the Canada-India Business Council plans to host industry and state representatives from both countries in a closed meeting in Toronto, Thomas said.

However, Global Affairs Canada said trade talks remain paused. 香蕉视频直播淣o further meetings are scheduled,香蕉视频直播� spokesman Jean-Pierre Godbout said in an email.

He reiterated that the government remains committed to supporting exporters and said businesses can contact Canada香蕉视频直播檚 trade commissioner services to tap into its network.

On Oct. 25, India announced it would resume processing applications from Canadians looking for business, medical and conference visas, as well people with family ties in India.

Matthew Holmes, in charge of policy and government relations at the Chamber of Canadian Commerce, said he was relieved that service was up and running again and remained 香蕉视频直播渃autiously optimistic.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淏ut I think it will take a while for this to really resolve itself and play out. Unfortunately businesses are going to feel this for some time, whether that香蕉视频直播檚 disruptions to trade or to travel. Where they could have easily resolved an issue, it might become harder to do so for the foreseeable future,香蕉视频直播� Holmes said.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e seen this affect agricultural members of ours 香蕉视频直播� in particular, with pulses and proteins.香蕉视频直播�

Boatloads of Canadian potash, lentils, canola oil and coal briquettes land at Indian ports each year, while Canada imports chemical products, clothes and metals.

Canada sent $5.3 billion worth of goods to India in 2022, or 0.7 per cent of its global exports, according to Statistics Canada. Imports from India amounted to $8.3 billion, around 1.1 per cent of total imports.

India is also the leading source of immigration to Canada, underscoring the importance of business ties between the two. About 118,000 or 27 per cent of the 437,000 new permanent residents in 2022 came from India, according to the Immigration Department.

Some 1.4 million residents of Indian descent call Canada home, according to the 2021 census.

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