U.S. V-P calls Modi tough trade negotiator

New York                                                 

U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “tough negotiator” but said a trade deal with India is likely to happen soon. Speaking in a Fox News interview on May 1, Vance said that talks between the two countries were going well. He noted the U.S. wants fair trade and accused India of taking advantage of American trade rules for many years.

The Vice-President said President Donald Trump is working to fix trade imbalances. A 90-day pause on new tariffs, announced on April 9, allows countries like India to negotiate deals before facing higher taxes. However, a 10% baseline tariff and other duties on steel, aluminum, and auto parts still remain in place.

Vance mentioned that U.S. farmers are unable to sell their products easily in India. He said that new trade deals could open Indian markets to American agriculture and technology. He believes the agreement will boost American jobs and help U.S. farmers.

President Trump announced new tariffs on April 2, targeting countries including India and China. Talks with other nations like Japan, South Korea, and some European countries are also ongoing.

The India-U.S. deal is expected to be among the first finalized. Both countries began official negotiations after Modi’s February visit to Washington. The deal aims to solve issues like market access and tariffs. Vance stressed that Trump supports trade, but only when it is fair. He said India has gained from trade unfairly, but now the U.S. is rebalancing the relationship to support American businesses and workers.