US Vice President J.D. Vance has called for deeper cooperation with India, saying the South Asian country should increase its purchases of defence equipment and energy supplies from the US and provide Washington with greater access to its market.
His words added energy to the expected bilateral trade agreement.
Mr Vance, on a four-day visit to India, said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made progress on trade discussions during their talks on Monday, confirming that the two sides had finalised terms for trade talks, a significant step towards laying out a roadmap for a final agreement.
India and the US hope to conclude a bilateral trade deal this year and have set an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion (£374 billion) by 2030.
If finalized, the trade agreement could significantly strengthen economic ties between the two countries and possibly improve diplomatic relations.
“I believe India and America can achieve great things together,” Mr. Vance said at an event in the western city of Jaipur, where he, his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children were on a tour.
Mr Vance's first visit to New Delhi comes as US President Donald Trump has partially suspended tariffs on most countries, including India.
Earlier this month, Mr Trump announced a 90-day pause during which imports from many countries would be subject to a basic 10% tax to allow time for negotiations and possibly bigger deals.
The trade talks are particularly pressing for India and could help New Delhi avoid harsh tariffs from the US.
At the same time, the Trump administration is portraying its tariff strategy as a means of pressuring negotiations that could limit the influence and reach of China, the world's leading manufacturer and New Delhi's main rival in the region.
At the event, Mr Vance sought to allay concerns about Mr Trump's tariff decisions, saying his administration was seeking to restore balance to global trade so the US could forge a better future with allies like India.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
