Read-out of Minister Fast's meeting with India's Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma

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StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Today Minister Fast and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma met on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Both ministers agreed to instruct their respective negotiators to redouble efforts on an ambitious schedule to complete negotiations on a Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2013.

This commitment follows a productive third round of negotiations completed in December 2011.

Canada and India are pursuing a robust agreement, consistent with Canada’s ambitious pro-trade plan.

A trade agreement with India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on goods, liberalize the trade in services and directly benefit Canadian businesses and workers in sectors ranging from primary agricultural, resource-related and chemical products to transport equipment, machinery and equipment.

Canada will only sign an agreement that is in the best interests of Canadians.

Minister Fast also reiterated the importance of moving forward expeditiously with the establishment of the Canada-India Chief Executive Officer Forum, as requested by Prime Ministers Harper and Prime Minister Singh.