India Poised for Urgent Trade Negotiations with US: Jaishankar
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Synopsis
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the country's readiness for swift trade talks with the US, amidst significant shifts in the global landscape due to the Trump administration's approach. He highlighted the challenges and opportunities in these negotiations, urging a positive view on India's technological advancements.
Key Takeaways
- India is prepared for urgent trade negotiations with the US.
- US's approach to global engagement has fundamentally changed.
- Trade deals will be challenging due to high US ambitions.
- Global geopolitical dynamics are shifting with China's rise.
- India is focusing on Digital Public Infrastructure and semiconductors.
New Delhi, April 11 (NationPress) External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, stated on Friday that India is ready for urgent trade discussions with the US amid a challenging landscape influenced by the Trump administration's significant shift in America's global engagement strategy.
During his keynote address at the Carnegie Global Technology Summit, EAM Jaishankar remarked that upcoming trade agreements will be notably difficult, as the US exhibits high ambitions and the international environment has evolved markedly compared to a year ago.
"This time, we are certainly prepared for a high degree of urgency… we perceive an opportunity ahead. Thus, our trade negotiations are indeed demanding. We are engaging with highly competent individuals who are very ambitious regarding their objectives," Jaishankar noted.
The minister emphasized that just as the US holds a perspective on India, so does India view the US.
"We engaged in four years of discussions during the first Trump administration. They have their perspective of us, and we have our own view of them," he commented.
“The US has fundamentally altered its global engagement approach, which affects all areas, particularly in technology, where the implications are expected to be significant,” he added.
“The impact will be critical not only because the US is the largest economy and a key driver of global technological advancements, but also because it is evident that technology plays a major role in making America great again. There is a connection between MAGA and technology that was perhaps less apparent between 2016 and 2020,” EAM Jaishankar observed.
He also pointed out the shifting global power dynamics, particularly with China's increasing geopolitical influence over the past year.
“The changes in the United States represent one significant shift over the past year. However, the rise of China is another major shift,” he remarked.
Jaishankar highlighted that US-China trade relations are influenced by both trade and technology, asserting that decisions driven by China hold equal weight to those made by the US.
Highlighting the dramatic changes in the global geopolitical landscape, EAM Jaishankar noted that Europe, which once balanced its relationships with the US, Russia, and China, now finds itself in a pressured position.
“Five years ago, Europe perhaps enjoyed the best geopolitical environment, having established an ideal triangulation with the United States, Russia, and China. Today, every aspect of that triangle is under strain,” he explained.
Jaishankar emphasized how Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are also striving to exert their geopolitical influence through technological advancements.
In this context, he pointed out that India is advancing in Digital Public Infrastructure and prioritizing semiconductors after decades.
He encouraged the experts at the Global Technology Summit to engage in discussions and view the nation's technological landscape positively.
