India, Canada suspend trade talks

India has suspended trade talks with Canada due to disagreements on "certain issues", Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said.

Report informs via foreign media that the minister's statement came shortly after Canada canceled a trade mission to India that was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai in early October. The mission's work was expected to focus on agriculture, food, digital technology, infrastructure and life sciences.

"We have put the trade dialogue with Canada on pause. We need to make sure that geopolitically and economically we are on the same page. Certain issues of serious concern were highlighted in the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau," the minister told the publication.

In total, India and Canada held six rounds of negotiations on the trade agreement.

Earlier in the day, Canadian authorities expelled a high-ranking Indian diplomat from the country. In response, India expelled Canadian Ambassador Cameron MacKay from the country.