I hope the insulation will be effective against the interference.
---
New Delhi: As India and the US prepare to hold their first “2+2” talks in Washington on 6 July, both sides are expected to look at ways to insulate their strategic partnership from recent irritants over trade protectionism, and the new sanctions on Russia that could imperil an Indian missile deal with Moscow.
The inaugural “2+2” dialogue, which was to be held in April, is a new format to sort out differences between India and the US. The event will see US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary James Mattis sitting down with their Indian counterparts Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman, to focus on the strategic partnership. The talks are being seen as an outcome of the 26 June 2017 meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in Washington —the first since Trump took office in January 2017.
With India mulling retaliatory measures following the US decision to impose tariffs on Indian steel and aluminium, trade disputes seem to be the most contentious issue at present. However, it could also cast a shadow on the larger India-US strategic relationship, said two Indian officials, requesting anonymity.
Trump’s public criticism of New Delhi’s tariffs on the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles has not gone down well in India. In February, at a gathering of governors of all states at the White House, Trump had slammed the high import duty on Harley-Davidson motorcycles by India. And he did it again last week on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Canada. To add to this, the proposed cuts by the US in H-1B professional visas and cancellation of H4 spouse visas, besides India cutting prices on medical devices manufactured by US companies, have also contributed to the tensions between the two countries. In fact, the list of irritants seem to be steadily growing.
Indian trade minister Suresh Prabhu, who was in the US last week, said Friday that his talks with his counterparts were “positive.” Assistant US trade representative Mark Linscott is expected in India later this month to negotiate a “trade package”, which could include granting an extension to India on generalized system of preferences (GSP) that the US is currently reviewing.
...
‘2+2’ talks: India, US look to insulate strategic ties from irritants
---
New Delhi: As India and the US prepare to hold their first “2+2” talks in Washington on 6 July, both sides are expected to look at ways to insulate their strategic partnership from recent irritants over trade protectionism, and the new sanctions on Russia that could imperil an Indian missile deal with Moscow.
The inaugural “2+2” dialogue, which was to be held in April, is a new format to sort out differences between India and the US. The event will see US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary James Mattis sitting down with their Indian counterparts Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman, to focus on the strategic partnership. The talks are being seen as an outcome of the 26 June 2017 meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in Washington —the first since Trump took office in January 2017.
With India mulling retaliatory measures following the US decision to impose tariffs on Indian steel and aluminium, trade disputes seem to be the most contentious issue at present. However, it could also cast a shadow on the larger India-US strategic relationship, said two Indian officials, requesting anonymity.
Trump’s public criticism of New Delhi’s tariffs on the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles has not gone down well in India. In February, at a gathering of governors of all states at the White House, Trump had slammed the high import duty on Harley-Davidson motorcycles by India. And he did it again last week on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Canada. To add to this, the proposed cuts by the US in H-1B professional visas and cancellation of H4 spouse visas, besides India cutting prices on medical devices manufactured by US companies, have also contributed to the tensions between the two countries. In fact, the list of irritants seem to be steadily growing.
Indian trade minister Suresh Prabhu, who was in the US last week, said Friday that his talks with his counterparts were “positive.” Assistant US trade representative Mark Linscott is expected in India later this month to negotiate a “trade package”, which could include granting an extension to India on generalized system of preferences (GSP) that the US is currently reviewing.
...
‘2+2’ talks: India, US look to insulate strategic ties from irritants
