U.S. Vice President JD Vance, right, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a bilateral meeting at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, Feb. 11, 2025. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP, File)2025-04-20T04:26:09Z NEW DELHI (AP) U.S. Vice President JD Vance will embark on a four-day visit to India on Monday as the two countries seek to unlock economic opportunities and negotiate a bilateral trade deal.Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for talks on the economy, trade and geopolitical ties. Vances visit is seen as an important diplomatic mission by President Donald Trumps administration, and it coincides with a rapidly intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing, which is New Delhis main rival in the region.A trade deal between India and the U.S. could significantly enhance economic ties between the two countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic ties.The U.S. is also Indias largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $190 billion until recently.Indias foreign ministry has said the visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and two leaders will exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.Heres what to know more about Vances visit: Bilateral trade agreement Vances arrival in India comes weeks after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was in India for a geopolitical conference and two months after Modi met Trump in Washington.Modi was among the first leaders to visit the U.S. and hold talks with Trump after he returned to the White House. During his visit, Modi hailed a mega partnership with the U.S. and kickstarted a negotiation process to minimise the possible fallout of Trumps tariffs after it had already cut tariffs on a range of U.S. goods. Regardless, Trump targeted India with a 26% levy as part of his now-paused tariff programme, which has provided temporary relief for Indian exporters.During his visit, Modi sought to soften impending trade barriers by saying he was open to reducing more tariffs on U.S. goods, repatriating undocumented Indian nationals and buying military gear. The two countries also agreed to start talks towards clinching the bilateral trade agreement.Modi on Friday said he spoke with Elon Musk and said he and the SpaceX CEO discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation, saying India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the U.S. in these domains. Indias deep ties to US businessIndia is a close partner of the U.S. for bilateral trade, foreign direct investments, defence cooperation, and an important strategic ally in combating the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also part of the Quad, which is made up of the United States plus India, Japan and Australia and seen as a counter-balance to Chinas expansion in the region.Leading U.S companies such as Apple Inc. and Google have expanded operations in India in recent years. Last month, Musks Starlink entered into agreements with two of Indias top telecom operators to provide satellite-based internet services.To further boost trade ties, the U.S. and India have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 under the expected trade deal agreement. The negotiations are especially urgent for New Delhi as it could be hit hard by Trumps reciprocal tariffs, particularly in sectors of agriculture, processed food, auto components, high-end machinery, medical equipment and jewelry. This poses a significant challenge for Modi government as it hopes to spruce up the countrys economy and generate jobs with an export-led recovery.Modi and Trump already share rapport Modi established a good working relationship with Trump during his first term in office. It now appears that the two leaders are likely to further boost cooperation between their countries, particularly in trade as Chinese President Xi Jinping is aiming to position Beijing as a reliable trade partner in the Asia-Pacific region amid rising tensions with Washington.India has also already taken a number of steps to win over Trump. It will purchase more oil, energy and defence equipment, including the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, from the U.S. The U.S, however, wants greater market access for its agricultural and dairy products in India, but New Delhi has been reluctant so far as the farm sector employs bulk of the countrys workforce. Family trip for VanceVances visit to India marks his first official trip to the country, which has added significance for the second family. His wife Usha Vance a practising Hindu is the daughter of immigrants from South India.In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance described his wife a supersmart daughter of Indian immigrants whom he met at Yale Law School. Ushas parents moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s.Vance will be accompanied by Usha, their children and other senior members of the U.S. administration, and the couple will visit Indian cities of Jaipur and Agra and participate in engagements at cultural sites, a readout from the White House said. SHEIKH SAALIQ Saaliq covers news across India and the South Asia region for The Associated Press, often focusing on politics, democracy, conflict and religion. He is based in New Delhi. twitter mailto