US Vice President Vance Hints At Progress On India-US Trade Deal, Targets China's Low Wages In Veiled Attack

A day after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Vice President J D Vance hinted towards progressing trade deal between India and US amid Trump's reciprocal tariff threat that looms over India, NDTV reported.

Vance emphasised fairness and shared national interests in a trade deal and said, "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 statement made in Jaipur on Tuesday (22 April) can also be seen as a veiled attack on China, which is known for leveraging low wages to minimise costs and boost exports. US President Donald Trump has imposed a tariff of 125 per cent on China.

"We want partners that are committed to working with America to build things, not just allowing themselves to become a conduit for trade and shipping others' goods," Vance said highlighting 'historic nature of the moment.'

"Of the need to come together and build something completely new, a system of global trade that is balanced, one that is open and one that is stable and fair, " the US Vice President added.

Notably, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also recently emphasised the ongoing progress to secure a trade deal with the US and expressed optimism that at least a part of the deal would be sealed by 'fall this year.'

On similar lines, PM Modi posted after meeting Vance, "We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges."