Foreign Secretary, US Deputy Secretary Discuss Trade Barriers As Trump’s Reciprocal Tariffs Set To Kick In

<p>New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) Days before US President Donald Trump’s “tit-for-tat” tariff kicks in, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday spoke with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, focusing on the bilateral trade, including reduction of barriers to achieve a balanced trade relationship.</p>
<p>Misri and Landau also discussed the India-US cooperation in the areas of defence and migration and mobility.</p>
<p>The two officials “touched on the growing bilateral trade, defence and technology cooperation, and issues relating to mobility and migration”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.</p>
<p>Misri underlined the deepening convergence of India-US strategic interests, it said in a statement.</p>
<p>Both sides agreed to remain engaged on matters of “mutual concern”, the MEA said, without elaborating.</p>
<p>US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Misri and Landau discussed “ongoing efforts to reduce barriers to achieve a fair and balanced bilateral trade relationship” and strengthen collaboration in defence and technology.</p>
<p>US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch is currently in India and holding talks with his Indian interlocutors on firming up a bilateral trade agreement (BTA).</p>
<p>The talks are taking place days before Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on the United States’ trade partners kick in from April 2.</p>
<p>In a readout, Bruce said Misri and Landau also discussed efforts to boost security and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region.</p>
<p>Landau thanked Misri for “India’s assistance in addressing illegal immigration to the United States and asked the Government of India for continued cooperation on this issue”.</p>
<p>The MEA, in its statement, said both sides “agreed to remain engaged on matters of mutual concern”.</p>
<p>Congratulating Deputy Secretary Landau on his recent confirmation by the US Senate, the foreign secretary underlined the deepening convergence of India-US strategic interests, it said.</p>
<p>The two also touched on the growing bilateral trade, defence and technology cooperation, and issues relating to mobility and migration, it said.</p>
<p>Misri also extended an invitation to Landau to visit India at his earliest convenience, the MEA added.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)<br /></strong></em></p>