Vice President J.D. Vance talked Monday with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi as New Delhi looks to avoid U.S. tariffs, negotiate a bilateral trade deal and strengthen ties with the Trump administration.
Vance, who is on a largely personal four-day visit to India, met with Modi at his residence in New Delhi and two leaders “reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation,” Modi’s office said in a statement.
They also “welcomed the significant progress” in the negotiations of an expected trade deal between the countries, the statement said.
The White House in a statement said that Vance and Modi set the terms for ongoing talks, “laying down a roadmap for further discussions.”
It’s a sign that talks are moving forward but remain far from completed, though Trump administration officials also spoke with their counterparts from India in a sign of the high level of engagement. The Trump administration has portrayed its strategy of tariffs as forcing negotiations that could limit the reach and influence of China.
The U.S. is India’s largest trading partner, and the countries are now negotiating to seal a bilateral trade agreement this year. They have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. If achieved, the trade deal could significantly enhance economic ties between the countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic ties, as well.