Key points
- Trump has continued to call India a “tariff abuser”
- US is a crucial market for India’s products
- US is home of 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants: BBC
- Opposition criticises Trump’s offer to sell F-35 fighters
ISLAMABAD: United States Vice President JD Vance began a four-day visit to India on Monday as New Delhi looks to seal an early trade deal and stave off punishing US tariffs.
AFP reported that Vance’s visit comes two months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The visit is seen in the context of US-India tariff war, allegations of tariff abuse, the issue of undocumented Indian immigrants in the US, the offer to sell F-35 fighters to India and minority rights in the south Asian nation.
US-India tariff war
Vance’s tour also includes a trip to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, the white marble mausoleum commissioned by a Mughal emperor.
India was among the countries which faced 27 per cent US tariffs on 2 April, according to BBC. India and the United States are negotiating the first tranche of a trade deal, which New Delhi hopes to secure within the 90-day pause on tariffs announced by Trump earlier this month, AFP reported.
“Tariff abuser”
After the tariffs were announced, India’s Department of Commerce said it was “carefully examining the implications”. AFP reported that Trump, speaking while unveiling the tariffs, said Modi was a friend but that he had not been “treating us right”. Reuters reported that the US president has continued to call India a “tariff abuser” and “tariff king”.
AFP reported that the United States is a crucial market for India’s information technology and services sectors.
Indian immigrants
Earlier, Reuters reported that a US military plane carrying Indian immigrants landed in India’s northern city of Amritsar on Wednesday. It added that deporting an unspecified number of people as part of Trump’s immigration agenda.
BBC reported that there are about 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US, the third largest group behind Mexicans and El Salvadoreans.
F-35 fighters
Reuters reported that India’s opposition parties have criticised Donald Trump’s offer to sell F-35 fighters to India, citing their high costs. It reported that the Indian government has not said it intends to buy the plane.
Church Attacked
Vance’s visit comes as Congress spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed has said that a church in Ahmedabad was attacked by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal goons during Easter Sunday prayers.
She posted on X formerly known as twitter, “A church in Ahmedabad was attacked by VHP and Bajrang Dal goons during Easter Sunday prayers.”
