US Vice-President JD Vance Begins Four-Day India Visit Amid Rising Trade Tensions.
By Caroline Ameh
US Vice-President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi on Monday, for a four-day official visit to India aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and accelerating negotiations on a long-awaited trade deal between the two nations.
Vance, who is accompanied by his wife Usha and their children, began his visit with a stop at Delhi’s iconic Akshardham temple. The family is also expected to visit the historic cities of Agra and Jaipur during their stay.
His trip comes at a time of heightened global trade tensions following President Donald Trump’s announcement of steep reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries. The US President has imposed a 27% tariff on Indian goods, though it has been temporarily paused until 9 July to allow room for negotiations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that discussions between Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will focus on fast-tracking the bilateral trade agreement and exchanging views on key regional and global developments.
Formal talks between Vance and Modi are scheduled for later Monday, followed by a state dinner hosted by the Indian leader.
The trade imbalance remains a sticking point in the negotiations. India currently enjoys a $45 billion trade surplus with the US and maintains average tariffs of around 12%, significantly higher than the US’s 2%. In response to US pressure, India has already reduced tariffs on select American goods, with further cuts anticipated.
The US was until recently India’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $190 billion. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi had previously set an ambitious goal of increasing that figure to $500 billion, alongside deals for India to expand imports of US oil and gas.
Vice-President Vance’s visit follows a series of high-profile US engagements with India. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard visited the country in recent weeks, and a delegation led by Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, also held discussions in Delhi.
Vance’s trip is also being viewed as a precursor to President Trump’s expected visit later this year for the Quad summit, which will bring together leaders from the US, India, Australia, and Japan.
India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed optimism ahead of the talks, stating: “Delhi is very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties.”
Usha Vance, the Vice-President’s wife, has personal ties to India—her parents migrated from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the United States.
