Trump and Modi and the ideological, political and economic underpinnings of the India–United States trade dispute

Abstract

This article seeks to provide answers to questions: why did India and the United States have a trade dispute under Trump and Modi administrations, and why were the two countries unable to resolve the trade dispute under Trump and Modi administrations? The article asserts that the primary reason for the trade dispute/disagreements between the two countries is the domestic economic and political environment and ideological considerations in the Trump and Modi administrations. This has manifested itself in a clash between Trump's ‘America first’ stance with the aim of ‘Making America great again’ and Modi's ‘Make in India’ initiative which envisions creating India as a manufacturing powerhouse and increasing the economic prosperity of Indian citizens. The article highlights each country's concerns and grievances regarding the other side's trade policies and what kind of trade access India wants from the United States and vice-versa.