U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to embark on a four-day official visit to India next week, marking his first trip to the country since taking office. Vance is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21, the first day of his visit, to discuss deepening economic, trade, and strategic ties between the two nations. According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the visit presents an opportunity for both sides to evaluate progress in their bilateral relationship.
This visit comes as India and the United States work towards finalizing a bilateral trade agreement by the fall. Vance will be accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, and their children. Usha Vance has family roots in Andhra Pradesh, a southern Indian state. The backdrop to this visit includes a sharp escalation in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war. President Donald Trump has recently imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, with some levies reportedly reaching as high as 245%. In response, China has introduced retaliatory tariffs of up to 125% on American goods.
India has also been impacted, with Washington imposing 27% tariffs on certain Indian goods on April 2. However, a 90-day pause on these tariffs has created space for India and the U.S. to accelerate trade talks. India has already slashed tariffs on several products and is reportedly considering further reductions in a bid to avoid renewed U.S. trade penalties. At its peak, U.S.-India bilateral trade reached $190 billion, with Washington being India’s largest trading partner.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi visited the United States shortly after Trump’s inauguration. During the visit, both leaders emphasized a “mega partnership,” announcing new trade deals that included increased Indian imports of U.S. energy. They also committed to an ambitious goal of raising bilateral trade to $500 billion. Vance’s trip to India follows a recent visit by U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who attended a geopolitical conference in the country. Both India and the United States are key members of the Quad alliance, alongside Australia and Japan—a strategic group seen as a counterweight to China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has just concluded a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, aimed at positioning China as a stable trade partner amidst escalating tensions with the United States. Before arriving in India, Vice President Vance will visit Italy on April 18, where he is expected to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Under President Trump’s second term, Vance has emerged as a central figure in shaping and leading U.S. foreign policy. Trump himself has not yet undertaken any international visits since his return to office in January.
