US VP Vance says 'progress' in India trade talks

New Delhi: US Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that good progress had been made towards a trade deal with India after meeting with tough negoti...

New Delhi: US Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that "good progress" had been made towards a trade deal with India after meeting with "tough negotiator" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Washington and New Delhi are negotiating the first tranche of a trade deal, which India hopes will allow it to secure relief within the 90-day pause on steep tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump this month.

"Prime Minister Modi is a tough negotiator, he drives a hard bargain," Vance said in a speech in the city of Jaipur, where he is visiting as part of a four-day tour of India. "It's one of the reasons why we respect him."

Vance, who met with Modi on Monday evening, sketched out a win-win partnership saying the two nations had "much to offer one another", urging New Delhi to buy more US military equipment and boost energy ties.

"We don't blame Prime Minister Modi for fighting for India's industry, but we do blame American leaders of the past for failing to do the same for our workers", Vance added.