Building bonds: Vance and his sons, Vivek (left) and Ewan watching a cultural performance at Amber Fort, a historical site, in Jaipur. — AP
US Vice-President JD Vance held trade talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi as the South Asian nation looks to strike an early deal with Washington that spares it from President Donald Trump’s additional tariff hikes.
The White House said in a statement that the Monday talks yielded “significant progress in the negotiations” for a bilateral trade agreement, and that the sides had finalised a roadmap for a possible deal to reduce the tariff burden.
The pair also discussed cooperation in defence, critical technologies and energy, the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
The two leaders “called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward” after discussing regional and global security issues, the statement said.
“India’s constructive engagement so far has been welcomed and I look forward to creating new opportunities for workers, farmers, and entrepreneurs in both countries,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.
The meeting included bilateral talks between Vance and Modi, a larger meeting with staff and a dinner with the vice-president’s wife Usha Vance and their three children. A video released by the prime minister’s office showed Vance’s sons in traditional kurta pyjamas and Modi gifting the children peacock feathers.
Modi also said he looks forward to a visit by Trump to India later this year, referring to an invitation he conveyed to the American president during his visit to Washington in February.
The meeting caps the first day of a four-day visit to India by Vance and his family, a trip that underscores India’s importance among countries seeking trade talks with the United States during the 90-day pause on Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs. Following the dinner, Vance departed New Delhi for Jaipur.
The United States has threatened to slap a 26% tariff on Indian exports – up from a baseline 10% covering exports from all nations – if no deal is reached during the tariff pause that stretches until July.
Trump administration officials have named India as one of several countries the United States is prioritising negotiations with during the pause, and hopes are running high in New Delhi that the country can secure a quick agreement. — Bloomberg
