President Trump’s effort to rebalance global trade will cause “profound changes” in the U.S. and other countries but will ultimately produce “great benefits” for Americans and partner nations such as India, Vice President J.D. Vance said Tuesday.
Mr. Vance described India as a critical partner on topics like artificial intelligence, energy and defense before pivoting to Mr. Trump’s tariff plan, which includes a blanket 10% tariff on imports and heftier levies on India and other nations — unless they can strike bilateral agreements.
“It’s clear to me, as it is to most observers, that President Trump, of course, intends to rebalance America’s economic relationship with the rest of the world,” Mr. Vance said in Jaipur.
Mr. Vance said that will “cause profound changes within our borders, in the United States, but of course, with other countries as well,” he said. “But I believe that this rebalancing is going to produce great benefits for American workers. It’s going to produce great benefits for the people of India. And because our partnership is so important, to the future of the world.”
Mr. Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finalized a roadmap for a bilateral trade deal during a meeting in New Delhi on Monday. A deal would help India avoid a 27% tariff on its goods at the end of a 90-day pause in Mr. Trump’s “Liberation Day” plan for reciprocal tariffs.
“There is a serious lack of reciprocity in the trade relationship with India,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said. “These ongoing talks will help achieve balance and reciprocity by opening new markets for American goods and addressing unfair practices that harm American workers.”
Beyond tariffs and trade, Mr. Vance said the U.S. was prepared to sell more energy and defense equipment to India. The country has overtaken China as the most populous country in the world and is viewed as a critical counterweight to Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region.
“I believe that if India and the United States work together successfully, we’re going to see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful,” Mr. Vance said. “But I also believe that if we fail to work together successfully, the 21st century will be a very dark time for all of humanity.”
The visit to India had personal meaning for the vice president’s family.
Mr. Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, was born to Indian immigrants and is the first Hindu-American second lady.
The vice president said his kids really like Mr. Modi, so it was a good sign for the U.S.-India relationship
“They’ve only really liked, I should say they’ve only really built a rapport with, with two world leaders,” Mr. Vance said. “The first, of course, is President Trump. He just has a certain energy about him, but Prime Minister Modi, it’s the exact same thing.”
