Business APAC
April 21, 2025
US Vice President JD Vance landed in New Delhi today. It’s his first official visit to India. He’s here with his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, whose family comes from India, and their children. The four-day trip mixes top-level meetings with cultural stops. Tonight, Vance sits down with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These talks happen with a serious trade issue creating a tense backdrop: recent US tariff plans.
India’s government sees this visit as a chance to build on the strong India-US partnership. JD Vance visits India at a critical juncture for bilateral relations. As the talks get going, here are five important things to understand about this significant trip:
1. Top-Level Talks and a Family Connection
This is VP Vance’s first official India trip, showing that the current US team sees the relationship with New Delhi as important. Having his family along, especially Second Lady Usha Vance, adds a personal touch that is often helpful in world affairs. The main event during this period, when JD Vance visits India, is the meeting with PM Modi tonight at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. What they discuss will be key for handling current problems, especially on the trade front.
2. The Tariff Question Mark
Trade is tricky right now. The US recently announced extra “reciprocal tariffs,” including a potential 26% hike on many Indian goods. But, they quickly hit pause on these extra tariffs for 90 days (starting April 9, running until early July) for India and others, giving time for negotiation. So, the talks are urgent.
It’s worth noting that a 10% baseline tariff already applies to many imports into the US. Good news for some sectors: things like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, critical minerals, energy products, and certain electronics (like smartphones and laptops) are exempt from those extra reciprocal tariffs. Keep in mind, older US tariffs on steel (25%), aluminum (25%), and autos (25%) are also still in place, providing a complex backdrop as JD Vance visits India.
3. A New Trade Deal on the Table
Both countries want to move forward on a new two-way trade deal, often called a BTA (Bilateral Trade Agreement). The big goal? Push trade between them past $500 billion a year by 2030, way up from about $191 billion now. They just agreed on the basic plan, outlining about 19 topics to cover. Real negotiations start this week (April 23) when Indian officials head to Washington D.C.
India hopes to make progress during the 90-day tariff pause. What’s the holdup? The US wants India to accept more American farm goods, dairy, and cars. India wants the US to buy more Indian textiles, gems, and leather goods. Discussions on this are high on the agenda while JD Vance visits India.
4. More Than Just Trade: Security and Tech
The talks will go beyond just buying and selling goods. The bigger picture during this trip where JD Vance visits India, includes:
- Defense: Working together on defense is a major piece. Discussions might involve joint work on things like jet engines or military vehicles.
- Technology: High-tech cooperation is also key. They have plans (like the TRUST initiative) to team up on AI, computer chips, quantum computing, and clean energy.
- Regional Security: They’ll likely discuss working together on security across Asia, often involving the QUAD group (India, US, Japan, Australia). New plans also aim to boost defense technology partnerships (ASIA initiative) and innovation in space and energy (INDUS Innovation).
These broader strategic areas are significant components of the agenda as JD Vance visits India.
5. A Packed Four-Day Schedule
Vice President Vance won’t have much downtime over the next four days. The schedule during the period JD Vance visits India includes:
- Monday (April 21): Arrived in Delhi. He meets PM Modi tonight. A visit to the Akshardham temple might also happen. Later, the family heads to Jaipur.
- Tuesday (April 22): He’ll be in Jaipur, seeing historic sites like Amer Fort, meeting state leaders, and giving a speech about the India-US relationship.
- Wednesday (April 23): A trip to Agra is planned to see the famous Taj Mahal and a local crafts market called Shilpgram. Then back to Jaipur.
- Thursday (April 24): The Vances fly back to the US from Jaipur. The trip clearly mixes official business with cultural engagement.
What This Means
This visit comes at an important time. Handling the disagreements over trade successfully, especially with the tariff deadline looming in July, is essential. This week’s talks in Delhi, coinciding with the start of negotiations in Washington D.C., could shape the path forward for India and the US.
That 90-day pause puts pressure on both sides to find some common ground quickly. The significance of the moment is amplified by the fact that JD Vance visits India now.
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