US Says ‘America First’ in India Trade Deal, Won’t Repeat China Mistakes

A senior United States official has said that Washington will prioritise its national interests while expanding economic cooperation with India, signalling a cautious approach to the upcoming India–US trade deal. The statement reflects lessons the United States believes it learned from its earlier economic engagement with China.

The remarks were made by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, where he discussed the evolving economic relationship between the United States and India.

The proposed India–US trade agreement is expected to be signed later this month and is being closely watched as a key step in strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

US Emphasises ‘America First’ Approach

During his address, Landau emphasised that the United States would follow an “America First” approach while negotiating trade and economic partnerships.

He said Washington would ensure that its economic engagement with India aligns with American national interests and protects domestic industries.

The official also noted that the United States intends to avoid policy mistakes that it believes were made during earlier trade engagement with China around two decades ago.

Lessons From US–China Economic Relations

According to Landau, the United States has reassessed aspects of its past economic relationship with China.

Over the years, Washington has argued that previous trade arrangements contributed to manufacturing losses and supply chain vulnerabilities in the United States.

Because of this experience, the US government now aims to adopt a more strategic and balanced approach when forming new trade partnerships.

Landau suggested that future agreements would focus on protecting national interests while still expanding global economic cooperation.

Growing India–US Economic Partnership

India and the United States have significantly expanded their economic partnership over the past decade.

The two countries have strengthened cooperation in areas such as technology, manufacturing, energy, defence and supply chains.

Trade between the two nations has also grown steadily, making the United States one of India’s most important trading partners.

Officials from both sides have been working on a new trade framework aimed at increasing investment and improving market access.

Strategic Importance of the Trade Deal

The upcoming trade agreement is seen as strategically important for both countries.

For India, deeper economic engagement with the United States could open opportunities for exports, technology transfer and investment.

For the United States, cooperation with India is viewed as an important part of broader economic and geopolitical strategies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Analysts say the deal could strengthen supply chains and reduce dependence on single-country manufacturing hubs.

Discussion at Raisina Dialogue

The comments were delivered during the Raisina Dialogue, one of India’s leading geopolitical and strategic conferences.

The event brings together policymakers, diplomats, security experts and business leaders from around the world to discuss global security, diplomacy and economic cooperation.

Landau’s remarks highlighted how economic partnerships are increasingly shaped by strategic considerations.

Trade Agreement Expected Soon

The India–US trade agreement is expected to be finalised later this month, although officials from both countries have not yet released full details of the framework.

Experts say the agreement could cover areas such as technology cooperation, supply chain security, investment flows and market access.

If concluded successfully, the deal could mark another milestone in the rapidly expanding economic relationship between India and the United States.