US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Delhi for a visit aimed at addressing ongoing trade tensions with India, triggered by Washington’s tariff policies.
Vance is scheduled to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with discussions likely to center around accelerating a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement between the two nations.
Vance’s visit comes as countries globally rush to finalize trade deals before the end of US President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, which expires on July 9.
Trade tensions between the US and several countries, including India, have escalated in recent months after Trump announced steep reciprocal tariffs. In particular, Trump imposed a 27% tariff on India, though it was temporarily paused in April. India has responded by reducing tariffs on some US goods, with further cuts expected as the trade balance remains in India’s favor, with a $45bn trade surplus. India’s average tariffs are significantly higher than the US’s, which stands at around 2%.
This visit is seen as significant, especially ahead of Trump’s planned visit to India later this year for the Quad summit, which will also include leaders from Australia and Japan. Vance’s trip is expected to further strengthen US-India relations, with the Indian foreign ministry expressing optimism that the visit will enhance bilateral ties.
Vance’s arrival follows a series of high-level engagements between the two nations, including Modi’s visit to the US after Trump’s inauguration and subsequent visits by US officials to India, further solidifying the “mega partnership” between the US and India.
