Modi, Vance tout progress on India-US trade deal

Reuters:

NEW DELHI, April 21 – U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted progress in talks for a trade deal between the two countries, their offices said on Monday, as New Delhi rushes to avoid U.S. tariffs and court Trump’s administration.

Vance arrived in India earlier on Monday for a largely personal four-day visit to the country with his family, which includes visiting the Taj Mahal and making a speech in the city of Jaipur, U.S. officials said.

The two leaders also noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence and strategic technologies, among others, a statement from Modi’s office said after talks between them.

They discussed regional and global issues and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward, it said, reiterating a standard Indian line about global conflicts without naming any. New Delhi has in the past used this formulation for the war in Ukraine.

“(The) prime minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year,” it added.

Statements from the Trump administration said the two countries agreed on a roadmap for further discussions on trade.

Vance’s office said talks present “an opportunity to negotiate a new and modern trade agreement focused on promoting job creation and citizen well-being in both countries.”

In a statement on Monday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer pointed to an “serious lack of reciprocity in the trade relationship with India” that needed to be resolved.

Vance landed in New Delhi following a visit to Rome, where he held a private meeting with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday.

Vance’s wife, Usha, is the daughter of Indian immigrants.

Modi and Vance reviewed progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation outlined in February when the Indian leader met President Donald Trump in Washington, their offices said. It includes “fairness” in their two-way trade and growing their defence partnership.