Trump India visit: US officials talk tough on trade and social issues

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump will raise the issue of religious freedom in his public remarks at the Ahmedabad rally and “certainly” in his private meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US officials have said.

The world is looking to India “to continue to uphold its democratic traditions” and provide “equal treatment for all under the rule of law,” a senior administration official said in a conference call about the Feb. 24-25 visit.

Besides social issues, Trump will also push Modi on the trade disputes, especially the recent tariff increases announced in the Indian budget in addition to a whole list of complaints about e-commerce rules, market access and increasing protectionism, another official said.

Striking a hard note on the eve of the short 36-hour visit, US officials articulated a strong level of concern about Modi government’s decision to pass the Citizenship Amendment Act, which is seen as discriminatory against Muslims, and the National Register of Citizens in Assam. India has faced international criticism -- some of it genuine some manufactured -- since the CAA was passed.

The issue of religious freedom is “extremely important to this administration,” the senior official said, pointedly noting that the Indian Constitution ensured “religious freedom, respect for religious minorities and equal treatment of all religions.” Modi had talked about how “he would prioritize being inclusive of India’s religious minorities” in his first speech after winning the second term, the official added.

The other official took an even harder line on trade issues and appeared to put the entire blame on India for the absence of a trade deal. The official singled out India’s push for Make in India as a problem and criticised the recent budget for raising tariffs that affect US products.

Discussions were made “more difficult” because of several announcements from India in recent weeks and an “increase in barriers, not a decrease” which will “certainly come up” in the Modi-Trump meeting.

The barriers in services and goods are wide in scope and need to be addressed. The official dashed the prospect of early restoration of GSP privileges. “It was really the failure of the Indian government to provide equitable and reasonable access in numerous sectors” that led to the revocation and those concerns remain.

But prepared remarks preceding the Q&A session framed Trump’s visit as a demonstration of the “strong and enduring ties” between the two countries, which are based on shared democratic traditions, strategic interests and bonds between the two people. The official described the relationship between Trump and Modi as “very close.”

On the question of Kashmir, the official said Trump would encourage a bilateral dialogue with Pakistan and reduction in tensions along the LOC but added that a “core foundation of any successful dialogue” would be based on Pakistan continuing to crackdown on terrorists.

In light of the impending Afghanistan peace deal, the Trump Administration hopes that India and other regional countries will do everything they can to support the process and the US can “potentially end 19 years of military engagement.”

A high-level 12-member delegation will accompany Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. It will include among others Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross, Energy Secretary Dan Brouilletee, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom are “advisors” to the president.

Two Indian American officials in the Trump Administration – Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and Kash Patel, senior director for counterterrorism in the White House – will also be on the trip.

Air Force One will land in Ahmedabad on Monday for “Namaste Trump” at the Motera stadium, fly to Agra for Trump to see the Taj Mahal and arrive in Delhi for a one-night stay. Tuesday will begin with a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan followed by bilateral meetings, a business event with Indian investors and end with a state dinner before Trump flies out.