Do US and India get anything out of Trump’s recent visit to India and Modi’s visit to US?
India had geared up to impress the visiting US President Donald Trump on his first official trip to India. When Trump arrived at the Ahmedabad airport, Narendra modi welcomed him with his trademark hug and said a “new history” has been created.
BY SAHIL DESAI | 3 Mins Read
US President Donald Trump completed his 36-hour tour of India after indulging in diplomatic grandstanding in Ahmedabad, taking a sunset tour of Taj Mahal and holding a series of meetings in New Delhi. Trump’s visit was very crucial for him and Narendra Modi due to number of reasons like Effort to attract Indian-American voters, Trade Deal, Defence, the China factor and building on a better relationship between Trump and Modi.
There are millions of people of Indian origin who live in USA, thus the visit is being seen by many as a trip to a country to win some easy political points for his domestic politics. This would give American voters a good image for the re-election.
The bilateral trade between India and US stands at $160 bn. Everyone are hoping that a trade agreement takes place between the two countries amid issues like rising tariffs, price control, immigration of skilled workers and the visa regime.
India wants Mr Trump to continue the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) benefit for India which was terminated in 2019. The GSP tariff system would provide trade concessions to our country and thus promoting trade between the countries.
“Even a limited deal would be an important signal to industry in both countries that US and India are serious about growing trade, and they can resolve issues," says US India Business President Nisha Biswal.
The US will sign defence deals worth over $3 bn with India, President Donald Trump said while addressing the crowd at the Motera Stadium in Gujarat. “The US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons over made,” he added.
This meeting was President Trump and Prime Minister Modi's fifth meeting in eight months and they call each other a 'friend'. "We are not treated very well by India but I happen to like Prime Minister Modi a lot," Mr Trump told reporters days before his trip. This helped to smooth things over when tough talks came up.
In the end, both leaders had their wishes fulfilled despite not agreeing on a much talked-about trade agreement.