APD | US President’s visit to India fails to resolve trade disputes

By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

NEW DELHI, Feb. 26 (APD)-- US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wound up their two-day visit to India on Tuesday. While the visit proved to be a step forward for the India-US relationship, there were a few disappointments that cannot be overlooked.

An example of summit diplomacy, President Trump’s visit was a show of India’s diversity, history and culture. However, it also focused on enhancing defence and trade cooperation between New Delhi and Washington D.C.

During the two days of both public and private gestures by President Trump were conspicuous and appreciated.

First Day in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed President Trump as he arrived at Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the home province of Modi, directly from Washington D.C. President Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner also accompanied the US president.

In many ways, Trump’s visit was a follow-up of Modi’s 2019 US visit. On the first day, both the leaders addressed a huge crowd at the Motera Cricket Stadium at an event called “Namaste Trump”, a reciprocal of the “Howdy Modi” organized for Prime Minister Modi in Houston, Texas in 2019.

At the stadium, a crowd of about 100,000 people cheered both of the leaders as they made emphatic speeches. Trump said, "Prime Minister Modi, you are not just the pride of Gujarat. You are a living proof that with hard work and devotion Indians can accomplish anything, anything at all, anything they want."

Meanwhile, Trump’s speech also proved to be a way of reaching out to the Indian public as well as the thousands of Indian-Americans living in the US, as he invoked Indian spiritual leaders, spoke about terrorism, cricket as well as film industry (Bollywood).

“All over the planet people take great joy in 'bhangra' and watching bollywood films like DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) and Sholay,” he said. Trump also mentioned cricket players like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

"India and the US are committed to fight terrorists and their ideology; that is why my government is working with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups," he added.

The US First Family also visited the famous monument, Taj Mahal in Agra, in the province of Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Second Day in New Delhi

The second day was, however, reserved for talks with leaders and negotiating defence and trade deals in New Delhi. Speaking about defence cooperation with India, Trump said, "We make the greatest weapons ever made airplanes, missiles, rockets, ships. We make the best. And we're dealing now with India. But this includes advanced air defense systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles.”

However, it was disappointing that a trade deal was not the focus on the second day. While, the US is one of India's biggest trade partners, in the last few years trade has become a topic of contention between the two countries.

In 2018, bilateral trade between US and India was around $142.6 bn. In June 2019, however the US ended India’s preferential trade status, which made India impose retaliatory tariffs on 28 US products.

This visit was being considered as a way of resolving the trade impasse. Nevertheless President Trump assured that he was working with the Indian Prime Minister for "a comprehensive trade deal".

Unrest in Delhi

During Trump’s visit religious unrest in Delhi also made news. Asked to comment about the violence, Trump told the reporters that it was "up to India" to handle the situation.

Adding, that the issue of religious freedom in India was brought up during his discussions with Modi and he was impressed by his counterpart’s response

In sum, it can be said that though President Trump’s visit to India was memorable, it was unsuccessful in resolving some prime issues. Trump’s effort to travel to several provinces of India and reach out to the people is being understood as a way of him showing interest in India. The gesture would certainly appeal to the Indian diaspora.

Nevertheless, to make sure that the relationship progresses, it is important for the two leaders to resolve the trade impasse and negotiate a deal that addresses the concerns of both the countries.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)