US Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance will visit India this month amid ongoing trade negotiations. Key objectives include enhancing market access and reducing tariffs. The visit follows JD Vance’s previous criticism of European policies during a trip to France and Germany.
Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance are scheduled to visit India this month, as reported by the American news outlet POLITICO, citing three knowledgeable sources. Usha Vance, who has Indian roots, is the daughter of a molecular biologist and a mechanical engineer, both of whom emigrated from Andhra Pradesh to America.
In February, Vice President Vance traveled to France and Germany, where he highlighted issues such as illegal migration, religious freedoms, and the disruption of elections during his speech at the Munich Security Conference. His upcoming visit to India is occurring amid ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and India.
President Donald Trump, in recent dialogue, pointed to high tariffs imposed by countries including India, Brazil, and China, declaring that his plan for reciprocal tariffs would take effect on April 2. Indian officials are optimistic about reaching a resolution through trade talks as U.S.-India trade relations progress.
Union Minister Jitin Prasada recently informed Parliament that both nations are committed to enhancing market access, minimizing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and strengthening supply chain integration. These remarks were made following a recent visit to the U.S. led by Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, aimed at solidifying the framework for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with a target completion date of fall 2025.
India is currently engaged in multi-ministerial discussions to alleviate excessively high tariffs on certain products, including automobiles, to promote mutual benefits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump, during their discussions in February, established an ambitious objective—termed “Mission 500″—to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by the year 2030, beginning with negotiations for the inaugural segment of the BTA by the fall of 2025.
In summary, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance’s upcoming visit to India is positioned within the broader context of crucial trade negotiations between the United States and India. The discussions aim to enhance market access and reduce impediments while setting an ambitious trade goal to significantly increase bilateral trade by 2030.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
