Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced his visit to Canada next month to expedite negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The terms of reference for the trade deal have been finalized, resuming discussions that were paused in 2023 due to diplomatic tensions. Goyal also mentioned ongoing talks for free trade agreements with Peru and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which have faced delays due to regional conflicts. He emphasized the importance of intellectual property (IP) in fostering innovation, announcing a three-year zero-fee regime for sports-related IP filings, covering patents, trademarks, and copyrights. This initiative aims to boost the sports ecosystem in India, including the manufacturing of sports equipment. Goyal noted a significant increase in patent applications, which rose over 30% to a record 143,000 in the fiscal year 2025-26, with domestic filings making up more than two-thirds of the total.