Ministry of Commerce & Industry press release · 29 March 2026 · pibtracker filter

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal holds bilateral meeting with Canada’s Minister of International Trade Mr Maninder Sidhu on sidelines of WTO MC-14 in Yaounde, Cameroon

PRID2246704 MinistryMinistry of Commerce & Industry Released29 March 2026 Reading8 min

Posted On: 29 MAR 2026 9:34PM by PIB Delhi Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada, on the sidelines of WTO MC14. The discussion focused on expediting the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations. Outside the FTA framework, both sides also agreed to develop a diversified sectoral engagement strategy and expand cooperation in shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and the education sector. Mr Sidhu extended a warm welcome to Shri Goyal for his upcoming visit to Canada in May 2026, leading a major Indian business delegation. India also supported Canada’s proposal to send a business delegation to India covering high-tech sectors such as aerospace, defence, and space. Underlining the importance of the clean energy transition, both Ministers agreed to explore cooperation in nuclear energy and other critical areas, including agriculture and critical minerals. On the MC-14 agenda, the Ministers exchanged views on WTO reforms, moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission as well as incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, dispute settlement, and the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). India emphasised that the WTO must remain a consensus-based organization with its foundational principles preserved. Furthermore, India maintained that the WTO should prioritize unfinished past mandates—particularly in agriculture—before shifting focus to newer issues while older commitments remain unfulfilled. Canada acknowledged India’s concerns and suggested that both nations should continue constructive engagement under the aegis of WTO while respecting differing perspectives on specific trade issues. Met Canada's Minister of International Trade, Mr. Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the #WTOMC14 . Exchanged views on the MC14 agenda, reviewed progress on the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations, and explored ways to further strengthen our bilateral trade &… pic.twitter.com/opZIr8D4RK — Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) March 27, 2026 *** Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh (Release ID: 2246704) Visitor Counter : 598 Read this release in: Urdu , हिन्दी Ministry of Commerce & Industry Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal holds bilateral meeting with Canada’s Minister of International Trade Mr Maninder Sidhu on sidelines of WTO MC-14 in Yaounde, Cameroon Posted On: 29 MAR 2026 9:34PM by PIB Delhi Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada, on the sidelines of WTO MC14. The discussion focused on expediting the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations. Outside the FTA framework, both sides also agreed to develop a diversified sectoral engagement strategy and expand cooperation in shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and the education sector. Mr Sidhu extended a warm welcome to Shri Goyal for his upcoming visit to Canada in May 2026, leading a major Indian business delegation. India also supported Canada’s proposal to send a business delegation to India covering high-tech sectors such as aerospace, defence, and space. Underlining the importance of the clean energy transition, both Ministers agreed to explore cooperation in nuclear energy and other critical areas, including agriculture and critical minerals. On the MC-14 agenda, the Ministers exchanged views on WTO reforms, moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission as well as incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, dispute settlement, and the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). India emphasised that the WTO must remain a consensus-based organization with its foundational principles preserved. Furthermore, India maintained that the WTO should prioritize unfinished past mandates—particularly in agriculture—before shifting focus to newer issues while older commitments remain unfulfilled. Canada acknowledged India’s concerns and suggested that both nations should continue constructive engagement under the aegis of WTO while respecting differing perspectives on specific trade issues. Met Canada's Minister of International Trade, Mr. Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the #WTOMC14 . Exchanged views on the MC14 agenda, reviewed progress on the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations, and explored ways to further strengthen our bilateral trade &… pic.twitter.com/opZIr8D4RK — Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) March 27, 2026 *** Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh (Release ID: 2246704) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada, on the sidelines of WTO MC14. The discussion focused on expediting the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations. Outside the FTA framework, both sides also agreed to develop a diversified sectoral engagement strategy and expand cooperation in shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and the education sector. Mr Sidhu extended a warm welcome to Shri Goyal for his upcoming visit to Canada in May 2026, leading a major Indian business delegation. India also supported Canada’s proposal to send a business delegation to India covering high-tech sectors such as aerospace, defence, and space. Underlining the importance of the clean energy transition, both Ministers agreed to explore cooperation in nuclear energy and other critical areas, including agriculture and critical minerals. On the MC-14 agenda, the Ministers exchanged views on WTO reforms, moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission as well as incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, dispute settlement, and the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). India emphasised that the WTO must remain a consensus-based organization with its foundational principles preserved. Furthermore, India maintained that the WTO should prioritize unfinished past mandates—particularly in agriculture—before shifting focus to newer issues while older commitments remain unfulfilled. Canada acknowledged India’s concerns and suggested that both nations should continue constructive engagement under the aegis of WTO while respecting differing perspectives on specific trade issues. Met Canada's Minister of International Trade, Mr. Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTOMC14?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTOMC14</a>. Exchanged views on the MC14 agenda, reviewed progress on the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations, and explored ways to further strengthen our bilateral trade &… <a href="https://t.co/opZIr8D4RK">pic.twitter.com/opZIr8D4RK</a>— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PiyushGoyal/status/2037609835584528553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2026</a> *** Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); var mPlayAction = document.getElementById("playbutton"); var isPlaying = false; function playAudio() { mPlayer.play(); isPlaying = true; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "none"; } function pauseAudio() { mPlayer.pause(); isPlaying = false; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "none"; } //function HandleAudio() { // if (isPlaying == true) { // //Playing already Pause it // pauseAudio(); // } else { // //Play the music // playAudio(); // } //} var synth = window.speechSynthesis; function CleanHtml(html) { html = html.replace(/ /gi, ''); return html; } function stripHtml(html) { let tmp = document.createElement("DIV"); tmp.innerHTML = CleanHtml(html); return tmp.textContent || tmp.innerText || ""; } $(document).ready(function () { //for responsive tables $("table").each(function () { if (!$(this).closest(".table-responsive").length) { $(this).wrap(" "); } }); var width = $(window).width(); if (width $(document).ready(function () { var width = $(window).width(); if (width @media print { .sticky-social, .sticky-social_mb, .pull-right, #printPDF { display: none !important; } } .f_vl { padding-right: 30px; font-size: 17px; cursor: pointer; } .log_oo { // width: 20%; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; } .log_oo img { width: 150px; /*width: 100%; height: auto;*/ } .sticky-social_mb { position: fixed; bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 100%; } .social_mb { list-style: none; 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height: auto !important; } p img { max-width: 90% !important; height: auto !important; } h2 { font-size: 20px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; } h3 { font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; } } /* === Film Roll Badge Styling(IFFI2025 countdown) === */ .film-roll-badge { position: absolute; top:82%; right: 20px; width: 230px; height: 70px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 18px, #6e2b8b 18px, #6e2b8b 36px ); border-top: 8px solid #9a2375; border-bottom: 8px solid #9a2375; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); animation: moveFilm 8s linear infinite; z-index: 10; } /* film sprocket holes */ .film-roll-badge::before, .film-roll-badge::after { content: ""; position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 10px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 10px, #fff 10px, #fff 20px ); left: 0; z-index: 2; } .film-roll-badge::before { top: -4px; } .film-roll-badge::after { bottom: -4px; } .film-roll-inner { position: relative; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; animation: flicker 2s infinite ease-in-out; } .countdown-text { font-size: 1.3rem; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; text-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4), 0 0 10px #000; white-space: nowrap; } /* === Animations === */ @keyframes moveFilm { 0% { background-position: 0 0; } 100% { background-position: 120px 0; } } @keyframes flicker { 0%, 100% { opacity: 1; } 50% { opacity: 0.9; } 25% { opacity: 0.95; } 75% { opacity: 0.85; } } /* === Responsive Adjustments === */ @media (max-width: 1500px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 68%; right: 18px; /* width: 220px; */ height: 65px; font-size: 0.85rem; } .press-section { margin-top: 35px; } } @media (max-width: 992px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 52%; right: 10px; width: 200px; height: 60px; } } @media (max-width: 768px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 56%; right: 10px; width: 124px; height: 55px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.9rem; } } @media (max-width: 576px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 59%; right: 5px; /* width: 160px; */ height: 50px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.85rem; } } const festivalStart = new Date("2025-11-20T00:00:00").getTime(); const festivalEnd = new Date("2025-11-28T23:59:59").getTime(); const countdownElement = document.getElementById("countdown"); const interval = setInterval(() => { const now = new Date().getTime(); // BEFORE FESTIVAL — show days + hours left if (now = festivalStart && now el.style.width = "350px"); clearInterval(interval); } }, 1000); //

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Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal holds bilateral meeting with Canada’s Minister of International Trade Mr Maninder Sidhu on sidelines of WTO MC-14 in Yaounde, Cameroon

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