US Vice-President JD Vance is set to visit India next week for a four-day trip, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of ongoing efforts to finalize a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations.
The meeting is scheduled for 21 April, the first day of Vance’s visit. Talks will focus on strengthening economic, trade, and geopolitical cooperation. India’s foreign ministry stated that the visit would serve as an opportunity for both countries to assess progress in their bilateral relationship.
This marks Vance’s first trip to India since assuming office and comes at a critical time, as both nations aim to complete a trade deal by the fall. He will be joined by his wife, Usha Vance whose parents hail from Andhra Pradesh in southern India and their children.
The backdrop to this visit is an intensifying trade conflict between the United States and China. President Donald Trump has recently imposed tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese imports, with some products potentially facing duties up to 245%. In retaliation, China has implemented 125% tariffs on American goods.
India, too, was impacted by a 27% tariff on its exports to the US earlier this month, although a 90-day pause has since been implemented. In response, both New Delhi and Washington have accelerated trade talks. India has already lowered tariffs on various products and is reportedly considering broader cuts to mitigate further trade pressure from the US.
The US was recently India’s top trading partner, with trade volume hitting $190 billion. Modi’s visit to the US in February, shortly after Trump’s return to office, saw both leaders reaffirm their commitment to a “mega partnership,” which included agreements for increased Indian imports of American oil and gas. They also set a bold goal of expanding trade to $500 billion.
Vance’s India visit comes shortly after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard attended a geopolitical conference in the country. Both nations are key members of the Quad a strategic alliance that includes the US, India, Japan, and Australia viewed as a countermeasure to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has concluded a tour of Southeast Asia, aiming to position China as a dependable trade partner amid rising tensions with Washington.
India is one of two destinations on Vance’s travel itinerary. Before arriving in Delhi, he will visit Italy on 18 April for a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Vice-President Vance has taken a lead role in foreign diplomacy under Trump’s administration, as the president has yet to make an overseas trip since returning to office in January.
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