Will PM Modi convey India’s concerns on destruction of multilateral trading system: Congress on U.S. VP Vance’s visit

Congress leaderJairam Ramesh. File
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Ahead of talks between Narendra Modi and U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance, the Congress on Sunday (April 20, 2025) asked if the Prime Minister would convey India’s concerns on the manner in which Indian citizens were being deported and the “complete destruction” of the multilateral rules-based trading system anchored in the WTO.

The Opposition party also asked if the Prime Minister would convey India’s concerns at U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the WHO.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh asked in a post on X if the Prime Minister would convey India’s concerns at the manner in which Indian citizens were being deported and Indian students made to live in an atmosphere of fear in the U.S. after their parents spent their life savings to support their children’s education in America.

Will the Prime Minister convey India’s concern at the complete destruction of the multilateral rules-based trading system anchored in the WTO, from which India has gained greatly, he asked.

Mr. Ramesh further questioned if PM Modi would convey India’s concern at U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, “which is so very essential for managing global warming that threatens the livelihoods of crores of our people”.

Will the Prime Minister convey India’s concern at the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, which plays an important role in global public health research and management, Mr. Ramesh further asked.

He also asked if PM Modi would convey India’s determination to ensure that any further bilateral trade liberalisation did not adversely impact Indian farmers, industry, and MSMEs.

The U.S. Vice-President, his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children — Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel — are scheduled to land at the Palam airbase at 10 a.m. on Monday (April 21) on a four-day visit.

PM Modi will host a dinner for Mr. Vance and Ms. Usha in the evening after holding talks with the American leader on a range of key issues, including trade, tariff, regional security and ways to expand the overall bilateral engagement.

Mr. Vance’s first visit comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against about 60 countries, including India.

New Delhi and Washington are now holding negotiations to seal a bilateral trade agreement that is expected to address a variety of issues, including tariff and market access.

The Vances will be welcomed on their arrival at the Palam airbase by a senior Union Cabinet Minister.

Besides Delhi, Mr. Vance and his family will travel to Jaipur and Agra.