US Vice President JD Vance is heading to India for consultation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a bilateral trade deal that follows the US tariff war with China and the scuffing of the US World Economic Union.
Vance will land in Delhi on Monday with second lady Ushavance and three children Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel, for a four-day visit that will combine family sightseeing tours with high-level negotiations.
The White House explained that the visit focused on “shared economic and geopolitical priorities,” and India said Vance’s stay “provides an opportunity to consider advances in relations on both sides.”
The talks will focus on quickly tracking trade deals amid Washington’s global tariff attacks.
India was hit by 26% tariffs from Donald Trump on April 2nd despite good relations with Modi. The 90-day suspension provided temporary relief, but Delhi remains cautious.
To avoid further economic fallout, officials in the Indian capital have been working overtime to hit the first tranche of a trade deal that both sides hope to complete by autumn. India has already cut tariffs on some US goods, with further sweep expected.
The US is India’s top trading partner, with two-way trade exceeding $190 billion (£14.4 billion). The relationship was boosted after Trump returned to the White House, after Modi paid for a well-intentioned visit to Washington. Both leaders Pledge As Modi called it, more than double $500 million into double trade of $500 million.
But not everyone is happy. On April 21, the day arrived for all-Indian Kisansaba (AIKS), India’s largest and oldest farmer association, to call for a nationwide protest against the trade contract. The union says trade liberalization could destroy farm revenues, particularly in the dairy sector.
AIKS, which is affiliated with the Communist Party of India, has accused US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick of “forcement” for claiming more than 16 million members and demanding that India’s heavily subsidized agricultural sector be part of the transaction.
Meanwhile, the memory of the Modi government, which was a massive peasant protest between 2020 and 21, was forced to abolish the controversial farm laws.
Tensions are also igniting students and H-1B visas, often awarded to high-tech workers. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has flagged US data, indicating that of the recent 327 visa cancellations for international students, half of Indian citizens are involved.
“The reason for the cancellation is random and unknown. There is growing fear and anxiety,” Ramesh said he urged the Foreign Minister to “school concerns” with the US.
The American Immigration Bar Association says US immigration officers are “actively targeting native students,” including people with no history of protest.
There has also been growing concern over the H-1B visa, which has long been essential for Indian technology workers in the US. Indians accounted for 70% of all H-1B visas last year, accounting for more than 200,000 people. Uncertainty about re-entry has encouraged many to cancel their visits at home.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said the government is “very positive” and that Vance’s visit is “more on track” and that he promises that “all relevant issues” will be discussed.
Vance’s time as Vice President is marked by his assertive “America First” foreign policy. On tours in Europe, he raised his temper by criticizing the defensive spending of allies. In March, at a stop in Greenland, he said, “We have to have Greenland. It’s not a question of ‘Do you think we can do it without it?” ”
Vance’s visit to India comes after the head of Tarshi Gabbard, the head of US intelligence news agency who was in Delhi to strengthen Quad, a security group from four countries, the US, India, Japan and Australia, was seen as a counterweight to China’s growing influence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has attacked the charm of Southeast Asia, promoting Beijing as a more stable and reliable economic ally than Washington.
Vance is primarily on a practical visit, but there is a strong personal element to his trip. The family tours the royal family of Jaipur and the iconic Taj Mahal. Officials say the “private element” emphasizes Usha Vance’s Indian roots – she was born to an Indian immigrant in the United States – and has a deep connection to India.
