US Vice Prez JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance likely to visit India this month—Reports
US Vice Prez JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance likely to visit India this month—Reports
Digital Desk: American political digital newspaper 'Politico' reports that US Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance will visit India later this month.
JD Vance will make his second official visit since President Donald Trump took office in January of this year. Vance traveled to Germany and France before arriving in India.
However, this will be Usha Vance's first journey to India as the US Second Lady. In 1986, her parents moved to the United States from India. Her origins in India can be traced back to Andhra Pradesh. She is a Yale Law School graduate and the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States.
JD Vance's official travel to India comes at a time of uncertainty about trade tariffs. On several occasions, Donald Trump has referred to India as a "high-tariff nation," a "tariff king," and has promised to apply reciprocal duties to countries that impose high tariffs on the United States.
He recently said that India had agreed to lower its tariffs, but the Indian administration, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has stated that it has 'not committed' to lowering import charges.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told a parliamentary panel on Monday that negotiations between India and the United States are still ongoing, and the two countries have yet to strike an agreement on trade tariffs. He also told the members that a "tariff war does not help anyone, including the US, and can lead to a recession," according to PTI, citing sources.
Meanwhile, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is in India to attend the annual gathering of intelligence chiefs, which is set for March 16-17 in New Delhi.
