Vance, Modi claim progress in trade talks

NEW DELHI — US Vice-President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted progress in talks for a trade deal between the two countries, their offices said on Monday, as New Delhi rushes to avoid US tariffs and court President Donald Trump's administration.

Vance arrived in India earlier on Monday for a largely personal four-day visit to the country with his family, which includes visiting the Taj Mahal and making a speech in the city of Jaipur, US officials said.

The two leaders also noted continued efforts toward enhancing cooperation in energy, defense and strategic technologies, among others, a statement from Modi's office said after talks between them.

Statements from the Trump administration said the two countries agreed on a road map for further discussions on trade.

In a statement on Monday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer pointed to a "serious lack of reciprocity in the trade relationship with India" that needed to be resolved.

Vance landed in New Delhi following a visit to Rome.

Modi and Vance reviewed progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation outlined in February when the Indian leader met Trump in Washington, their offices said.

The Indian prime minister was one of the first world leaders to meet Trump after he took office, and Reuters has reported that his government is open to cutting tariffs on more than half of its imports from the US, which were worth a total of $41.8 billion in 2024, as part of a trade deal. However, the US president has continued to call India a "tariff abuser" and "tariff king".

Officials in New Delhi are expecting to clinch a trade deal with the US within the 90-day pause on tariff hikes announced by Trump on April 9 for major trading partners. A wide swathe of Delhi's goods exports face a levy of over a quarter of their value under the new measures.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA