Talking down the tariff threat

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.