As tension between India and Canada worsens, New Delhi might limit trade, Indian media reported.
In recent years, Canada has been one of India’s largest supplier of red lentils or masoor dal. For the 2022-23 financial year Canada sold 485,000 metric tons of lentils worth $370Mln to India.
However, diplomatic ties between the two nations soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked a diplomatic row after alleging that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June. India’s foreign ministry called the allegations “absurd.”
After this, both countries expelled some diplomats, and later, the Indian government suspended issuing visas to Canadians.
If India cuts purchases of red lentils, the move will probably force Canadian farmers to cut the price.
Although the Indian government has refrained from issuing any guidelines so far regarding the limit in trade, industry experts fear that political tension might affect trade between the two countries.
Nitin Gupta, senior vice-president of Olam Agri India, a major importer, told Reuters that industry officials are concerned that there could be trade restrictions by the governments owing to present tensions between the countries.
Major imports from Canada include fertilizers and energy products such as coal, coke, and briquettes. At the same time, India exports consumer goods, pharmaceutical products, garments, and engineering products such as auto parts, aircraft equipment, and electronic items.