I know that Prime Minister Modi made a public commitment to coming up with a road map for our free trade negotiations. We welcome that interest, by the way.
At the end of the day, what's most important is not the timeline. What's most important is that Canada conclude a quality trade agreement that serves our national interest. That has always been the standard we have set for ourselves, and that is the standard we are committed to meeting.
With respect to small and medium-sized businesses, I have spoken to many Canadians who have tried to do business in India and have found it a complex, frustrating environment. It is a very large economy when you have 1.2 billion people in one place. When you have a country full of entrepreneurs but without a coherent set of rules at times, it does become frustrating. That's why we believe it is in Canada's interest to conclude negotiations on both an investment treaty as well as a free trade agreement.
Free trade agreements not only eliminate tariffs between Canada and a trading partner, but they also eliminate many of those frustrating processes behind the scenes or behind the borders that trip up Canadian entrepreneurs when they look to do business in a new market.
We are very much optimistic that we'll be able to conclude an agreement with India that will reduce, and in some cases eliminate, those non-tariff barriers and make it easier for Canadian companies to invest in and do business with India in a transparent and predictable way.