What any of their presidencies could mean for India

Trump’s “America First” stance has strained relations with India, especially on trade. He considered trade relations to be uneven and regularly criticized them. on American goods such as agricultural products and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. His administration ended billions of dollars of preferential trade terms for Indian exports to the US in 2019 when it removed India from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Both countries pursued trade negotiations doggedly during his presidency to prevent trade conflicts from overshadowing their larger strategic goals, attempting to resolve tariff disputes and expand market access.

In the context of trade with India, Harris is likely to follow Biden’s trade policy line. The Biden administration has maintained most of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. He is, in fact, this May. Moreover, Harris is likely to advocate for multilateral trade agreements and other regional agreements.

As tensions between India and China escalated, especially along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020, the Trump administration openly supported India’s position. This arrangement has strengthened India’s image as a major player in the Indo-Pacific region, and Trump’s vocal criticism of China has created a shared strategic interest in countering Beijing’s aggressive postures.

On the other hand, a Harris victory would mean a renewed focus on countering Chinese aggressiveness in the South China Sea through FONOPs (Freedom of Navigation Operations). Both Trump and Harris have nearly identical views on China. However, Harris does not support a trade war with China.

During her 2022 meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Harris emphasized the need for dialogue between their countries to . The Harris administration would be willing to work with allies to evolve its trade policy toward China.