“India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts to counter China, is seeking to strengthen trade relations with the United States”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts to counter China, is seeking to strengthen trade relations with the United States and make it easier for its citizens to obtain visas for skilled workers, two topics that will be on the agenda of the upcoming meeting, the sources said.
Trump’s return to the White House has raised concerns among officials in New Delhi about the imposition of tariffs on India, which he has included on a list of countries with high tariffs on American goods and has indicated he favors retaliatory measures.
But according to agency sources, New Delhi is willing to make certain concessions to Washington – although it has not been formally informed of US plans to impose corresponding tariffs – and is also willing to offer incentives to attract more US investment to India.
Officials hope an early meeting between the two leaders will help get relations off to a positive start during Trump’s new term, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Other topics for discussion between the two leaders will be the strengthening of partnership in the technological and defense sectors.
Migration will be another area of discussion, as Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration but has said he is open to legal migration of skilled workers.
Trump visited India in February 2020 during his previous term as president.
The United States is India’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade between the two countries expected to exceed $118 billion in 2023/24, with India posting a trade surplus of $32 billion.