Ted Menzies, the Canadian legislator leading a trade delegation to India, said in New Delhi on March 12, 2007, that Canada would like to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India if the Doha round of talks fails at the WTO.

The global trade talks have faltered on the issue of farm subsidies, and the main points need to be agreed upon before US President George Bush's negotiating authority from Congress expires at the end of June.

“A high-quality free trade agreement should be our longer objective,” Menzies said in a speech. Canada is eager to conclude a foreign-investor protection agreement with India by the end of the year, he added.

Menzies made the speech on behalf of Canadian Trade Minister David Emerson who fell ill before the trip.

Trade between the two countries totalled $ 3.1 billion last year, according to Menzies. India is Canada 's 14th largest export market, while Canada is India 's 24th largest, he said.

March 13, 2007