US Vice President JD Vance called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a tough negotiator, as both parties met for trade discussions yesterday in New Delhi. Vance also confirmed that the US and India have finalised terms for a trade deal.
“Modi is a tough negotiator, and that’s why we respect him. He stands strong for India's interests — and we appreciate that,” the VP stated while addressing an event in Jaipur on Tuesday.
As trade war fear looms across the globe after Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, Vance announced "America and India have officially finalised the terms of reference for the trade negotiation," calling it a "vital step toward realising President Trump's and Prime Minister Modi's vision." He further asserted that it sets a road map toward a final deal between both nations.
Vance said that the US is not approaching India to preach on doing things in any one particular way but as a partner. Taking a jibe at the previous administrations, Vance said that Washington approached Prime Minister Modi with an attitude of preaching too often in the past.
"Prior administrations saw India as a source of low-cost labour. On the one hand, even as they criticised the Prime Minister's government, arguably the most popular in the democratic world," the VP added, as per Mint.
"Our administration seeks trade partners on the basis of fairness and of shared national interests. We want to build relationships with our foreign partners who respect their workers, who do not suppress their wages to boost exports, but respect the value of their labour," the VP noted.
Vance also confronted Modi that the Indian leader's approval ratings make him "jealous". According to Morning Consult, Modi has an approval rating of 73%, based on as April 1-7 this year, making him the most popular global leader. He is far ahead of Trump's approval rating of 48%.
Terms of Reference
India and the US have finalised the Terms of Reference to lay down a roadmap for the negotiations on reciprocal trade. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday noted that there is a serious lack of reciprocity in the trade relationship with India. However, it believes that ongoing talks will help achieve balance and reciprocity by opening new markets for American goods and addressing unfair practices that harm American workers.
