US Vice President J D Vance met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday 21 April and both sides “welcomed the significant progress” in negotiations towards an India-US bilateral trade pact, framing it as a “new and modern trade agreement.”
Vance, on a four-day visit, met Modi amid the backdrop of the sweeping tariff regime announced by Trump - which has been paused for 90 days - against most countries, including India.
“(Both sides) welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Echoing this was the White House readout that “welcomed significant progress in the negotiations for a US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and formally announced the finalization of the Terms of Reference for the negotiations, laying down a roadmap for further discussions about our shared economic priorities.”
The White House statement said that the BTA is an opportunity to negotiate a “new and modern trade agreement focused on promoting job creation and citizen well-being in both countries, with the goal of enhancing bilateral trade and supply-chain integration in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner.”
It added: “Guided by their respective visions of ‘Amrit Kaal for India’ and ‘Golden Age for America,’ BTA is expected to create new opportunities of growth for workers, farmers, and entrepreneurs in both countries.”
This push at the highest level comes right before a three-day US visit by Indian negotiators, under the leadership of Rajesh Agrawal (Additional Secretary in the Commerce Ministry), on April 23 to draw up a “realistic 90-day roadmap” to clinch an interim agreement covering a range of issues, including tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and services.
“The Terms of Reference (ToR) have been finalised and will be further developed with the aim of moving closer to a trade deal within the 90-day pause window. Nineteen chapters are under negotiation, covering areas such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, and customs facilitation,” a senior government official had said.
Besides the trade agreement, the Indian statement also noted “continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas.”
“The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward,” it said, while referring to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Both sides referred to the PM-Trump meeting in the US in January and said this visit “provided an opportunity…to review the progress achieved in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-US Joint Statement issued on 13 February 2025.”
According to the PMO statement, the PM “fondly recalled his visit to Washington…and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047”.
The White House statement said that the Vice President extended “his sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for being such a gracious host to Second Lady Usha Vance, their children, and the accompanying US delegation during this pleasant and productive visit to India”.
Vance and Modi held a bilateral meeting and then an expanded one with members of each country’s delegation. The PM hosted Vance, Indian-origin Second Lady Usha Vance and their three children Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel over dinner at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence after the talks.
JD Vance and family explore India’s rich heritage on first visit
US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by his wife Usha and their three children—Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel—visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir in New Delhi during their four-day trip to India. Upon arriving in Delhi, the family went straight from the airport to the Mandir. There, they explored the site’s rich art, architecture, and cultural heritage.
In the guest book, US Vice President JD Vance expressed his gratitude, “Thank you for your warm hospitality in welcoming my family and me to this beautiful place. It's a true credit to India that such a stunning temple was built with such precision and care. Our kids especially loved it. God bless.”
The next day, he was accompanied by his family, visited Amer Fort in Jaipur. Arriving by jeep, they were welcomed by two elephants at Jaleb Chowk, while folk artists performed traditional dances like Kutchhi Ghodi, Ghummar, and Kalbeliya. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari also greeted the Vance family.
Vance spent around 90 minutes exploring the fort, including the Diwan-e-Aam, Ganesh Pol, Mansingh Mahal, and the world-renowned Sheesh Mahal, known for its intricate glasswork. Vance showed his daughter the views from all sides of the fort before heading to Rambagh Palace.
During their Jaipur visit, Usha Vance shared, “This is JD Vance and the kids' first visit to India, and it’s been truly special. India is growing, young, and vibrant, and he’s been very impressed by its culture and trajectory.”
She continued, “This is a trip of a lifetime. I’ve been to India before, but I wanted to share this experience with my family,” recalling the colourful Rajasthani welcome, which included two elephants, Chanda and Puja.
Speaking at the Rajasthan International Centre, attended by diplomats, officials, academics, and policy experts. Vance emphasised future collaboration between the US and India, saying, “We will build together—from Javelin to Stryker combat vehicles, weapons, and ammunition, and develop new tech innovations to meet future challenges.” Vance will also visit Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, an open-air crafts market.
