U.S. Vice President JD Vance is likely to travel to India this month along with Second Lady Usha Vance amid the ongoing trade negotiations between the US and India, Politico reported, quoting three sources familiar with the plans.
This will mark JD Vance’s second overseas trip since assuming charge as the Vice President of America.
Usha Vance has strong roots in India since her parents emigrated from the South Asian country to the U.S.
“It will be her first time visiting her ancestral country as second lady,” reported Politico.
Reciprocal Tariffs
President Donald Trump made his first joint address to Congress recently when he vowed to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries including India and China on April 2.
“Whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them,” Trump was quoted as saying by the media.
“On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It is very unfair,” he said.
“India charges us tariffs, 100 per cent. The system is not fair to the US, it never was,” Trump, who recently met Narendra Modi during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to the US, said.
“On April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in, and whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them,” he said.
India Makes ‘No Commitment’
Meanwhile, India has made no commitment to the United States regarding lowering tariffs, the Centre informed the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs during a meeting on Monday.
According to multiple media reports, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told the panel that New Delhi is considering reducing duties on certain items like nuts but has not agreed to any broader tariff cuts.
He also assured that the government would protect the domestic dairy industry.
This is the first time the Centre has commented on the ongoing tariff negotiations, which gained traction after US President Donald Trump claimed on March 7 that India had “agreed to cut their tariffs way down now.”
Barthwal, however, reportedly clarified that any tariff reduction would be negotiated bilaterally and not through temporary duty adjustments.
He also mentioned that India has sought time until September to address the reciprocal tariff concerns, and there is no fixed timeline for a resolution.
(With inputs from IBNS)
