‘Significant progress’ in Bilateral Trade Agreement talks as Modi welcomes Vance

India-U.S. BTA talks progress as PM Modi and U.S. VP Vance discuss cooperation and future plans in Delhi.

Welcoming “significant progress” in talks for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. Vice-President James David (JD) Vance met in Delhi on Monday (April 21, 2025), and reviewed plans for India-U.S. cooperation, the Prime Minister’s Office said. Mr. Modi, who met with Mr. Vance along with senior officials from both sides, before hosting Mr. Vance, wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and their children for dinner at his residence. However, they didn’t announce any new agreements, nor launch the TRUST Technology Partnership as had been earlier expected, as Mr. Modi said he looked forward to U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India “later this year”, when India will host the U.S.-India-Japan-Australia Quad Summit.

Follow J.D. Vance in India updates on April 21

Talks for a BTA, that were announced during Mr. Modi’s meeting with Mr. Trump in February, went into the next round in Washington on Monday, as a delegation of trade negotiators from the Commerce Ministry travelled to the U.S. While both sides have discussed “zero for zero tariffs” in a number of areas for the first tranche of the BTA due to be announced during Mr. Trump’s India visit, there is little indication of a breakthrough on issues such as market access in agriculture, and the revocation of the digital equalisation levy and other measures by India, so far.

Mr. Modi also discussed the India-U.S. road map that seeks to build on Mr. Trump’s “Make America Great Again (MAGA)” slogan and New Delhi’s plans for “Viksit Bharat (Developed India) 2047”, the statement said. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were present at the talks at the Prime Minister’s residence, along with senior U.S. officials, and U.S. Charge d’Affaires Jorgan Andrews.

“[The leaders] welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries,” the PMO said in its statement. “They noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas.” The statement made no mention on whether the leaders discussed more testy issues, including U.S. tariffs, and a crackdown on student visas by the Trump administration which may force many Indians to return without completing their studies.

“The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward,” the statement said, but did not mention specifically whether the Ukraine war or the conflict in Gaza were discussed.

Earlier, the visit had some uncertain moments as news came in of Pope Francis’ sudden demise in the Vatican, leading to questions about whether Mr. Vance, a Catholic, who had met the Pope only on Sunday after Easter mass, would curtail his plans, or whether the Prime Minister would put off the official dinner. However, the visit proceeded as scheduled, with Mr. Vance writing a post on X just after learning of the Pope’s passing.