India set to dazzle Trump with pomp and circumstance as trade rows fester

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India set to dazzle Trump with pomp and circumstance as trade rows fester

By Sanjeev Miglani and Steve Holland

 

People ride their motorbikes past a hoarding with the images of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump installed next to decorated trees alongside a road ahead of Trump's visit, in Ahmedabad, India, February 20, 2020. REUTERS/Amit Dave

 

NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will be accorded the biggest public reception given to any foreign leader in years during his visit to India beginning on Monday, officials say, one that could help paper over the two countries' growing friction over trade.

 

Close political and security partners, India and the United States have hit each other with retaliatory tariffs. Over the past month they have engaged in intense negotiations to produce a mini-trade deal, but officials in both countries say it remains elusive.

 

The two sides have been arguing over U.S. demands for access to India's huge poultry and dairy markets, Indian price controls on medical devices such as stents and stringent local data storage rules that U.S. technology firms say will raise the costs of doing business.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has sought restoration of trade concessions that Trump withdrew in 2019 and greater access to U.S. markets for its pharmaceutical and farm products. Above all, it says that Trump should not treat India on par with China, whose economy is five times larger.

 

Trump has been saying in recent days that he may be saving the "big deal" on trade until after the U.S. presidential election in November.

 

Senior Trump administration officials acknowledged on Friday that the two-day visit would not result in a limited trade deal, saying that Washington still had too many concerns about India's increasing trade barriers.

 

"We want to address a lot of concerns and we're not quite there yet," a senior Trump administration official told reporters.

 

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who has been leading trade talks with India, will not be part of Trump's delegation, which will include the president's daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

 

STADIUM RALLY

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather in Modi's political hometown of Ahmedabad to greet Trump for a road show leading to a rally in a cricket stadium with a capacity of over 100,000.

 

On stage, both leaders will address a bigger version of the "Howdy Modi" rally that they jointly appeared at in Houston to a jubilant crowd of 50,000 Indian Americans last year, where Trump likened Modi to Elvis Presley for his crowd-pulling power. 

 

"From the moment of their arrival at the airport a little before noon on 24th February, the delegates will be treated to a display of famed Indian hospitality and India’s Unity in Diversity," said Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla.

 

He said there will be tens of thousands of ordinary citizens as well as artists showcasing the performing arts from different states of the country as part of the India Road Show.

 

Trump, who will be accompanied by his wife, Melania, on the trip, has been fascinated with the idea of going to India since his visit to Houston, aides said.

 

Trump prides himself in having large crowds at his campaign rallies, ranging generally from 10,000 to 20,000 people, and has expressed admiration privately at the size of the crowd awaiting him in India, they said.

 

FADING TRADE HOPES

Hopes among U.S. business groups that Trump and Modi could announce some specific trade measures had faded in recent days as differences over new tariffs, agriculture and digital trade continued.

 

"If we see a deal, it's going to be minimal and even that doesn't seem to be on the table," said Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank in Washington.

 

He added that U.S. officials are pushing back against Modi's "India first" trade protectionism that, ironically, emulates Trump's tariff policies.

 

Trade experts said it was possible that India could present Trump with some symbolic trade gestures, such as further reducing high import tariffs on large-engine Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a particular irritant for Trump.

 

COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS

The two countries are also expected to announce India's purchase of 24 Seahawk naval helicopters from Lockheed Martin in a deal estimated to be worth $2.6 billion as well as a follow-on order for six Apache attack helicopters.

 

The United States has become one of India's top arms suppliers, with $18 billion worth of sales over the last 15 years, edging out traditional supplier Russia.

 

Trump and Modi are expected to discuss a wide range of issues including trade, 5G telecommunications, counterterrorism, energy security, religious freedom, the rule of law and the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, a senior Trump administration official said.

 

U.S. energy company Westinghouse is also expected to sign a new agreement with state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India for the supply of six nuclear reactors, kickstarting a long-running project.

 

(Additional reporting by David Lawder in Washington; Editing by Kim Coghill and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-24

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[marko kok prong]

Pomp and circumstance,as per last night of the proms? I wonder if the band will strike up Land of Hope and Glory,Rule Brittania,or Jerusalem? Ridiculous headline.

[Emdog]

Good to see Modi can't get facts straight just like his guest. Sign says "World's oldest democracy meets world's largest democracy".

Formed in 930 AD by the Vikings, the Althing, which is the name of the government of Iceland, has 63 members. Though it is an old democracy, it is considered to be the oldest and longest running parliament on Earth.

Close enough?

[Boon Mee]

Well, India loves Trump! ???? 

[opalred]

the last sucker to wake up to his b/s and lies 

but why would he go there /loan money for his business that have been losing for years

i would say loans from Russia/turkey /Arabs have dried up 

[kamahele]

Sorry India.... Can you please keep him?

[RJRS1301]

2 hours ago, Emdog said:

Good to see Modi can't get facts straight just like his guest. Sign says "World's oldest democracy meets world's largest democracy".

Formed in 930 AD by the Vikings, the Althing, which is the name of the government of Iceland, has 63 members. Though it is an old democracy, it is considered to be the oldest and longest running parliament on Earth.

Close enough?

Nah .   Largest is the key word

 

[Opl]

Trump: "I hear it’s going to be a big event. Some people say the biggest event they’ve ever had in India "

Modi tweeted an old Indian saying in response: “The guest is God.”

 

 

 

[RJRS1301]

Give POTUS something bright and shiny, it will amuse him for a few days.

As a germaphobe, he will be horrified at the state of the real India, if he is allowed to see it.

Probabaly going to meet the Ardani family, lets exploit people together.

 

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, kamahele said:

Sorry India.... Can you please keep him?

We will be thanking them for that bigly. Perhaps they can make him the Gods of Twitter insults, narcissism, and KFC buckets forgetting the cheeseburgers in respect of the local culture. 

 

[Opl]

""It's not as though you have China right on your border..."
 

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/73286221.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

[mrfill]

34 minutes ago, Opl said:

Trump: "I hear it’s going to be a big event. Some people say the biggest event they’ve ever had in India "

Modi tweeted an old Indian saying in response: “The guest is God.”

 

 

 

Kumbh Mela had over 100 million people last year and that was not a full Kumbh Mela which happen every 12 years. 120 million turned up in 2013 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-46834335

 

Its going to be one very huge rally or someone is lying again

[Eric Loh]

54 minutes ago, Opl said:

Trump: "I hear it’s going to be a big event. Some people say the biggest event they’ve ever had in India "

Modi tweeted an old Indian saying in response: “The guest is God.”

 

 

 

Typical Hinduism saying about about their numerous gods. But god of what is Modi referring? 

[malibukid]

baby Trump needs a ego boost.  meanwhile leave little lord Jared and his princess bride to fend for themselves for a month in Varanasi.  

Edited February 24, 2020 by malibukid

[Tug]

I wish they would drop him and his family off in the slums by himself I bet those people who have absolutely nothing would be more gracious and kind than trump will ever be 

[Cryingdick]

Quite an awesome display when they showed the stadium. I can't remember seeing an event of that magnitude in my entire lifetime. The entire crowd wearing Trump hats to boot. All cylinders firing and victory line in sight now.

[sanemax]

Nice to see the USA and India getting on so well , no hostilities and friendly 

[Susco]

42 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

The entire crowd wearing Trump hats to boot.

I'm sure they paid them to wear those hats

[Cryingdick]

2 minutes ago, Susco said:

I'm sure they paid them to wear those hats

 

If so that would be Trump putting money directly into the hands of the downtrodden. Well done Mr. President.

[Susco]

1 minute ago, Cryingdick said:

If so that would be Trump putting money directly into the hands of the downtrodden.

US tax payers money you will mean

[Cryingdick]

2 minutes ago, Susco said:

US tax payers money you will mean

 

Yeah very socialist of him. Take from the wealthy give to the poor and use tax money to do it. 

Edited February 24, 2020 by Cryingdick

[sanemax]

53 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 The entire crowd wearing Trump hats to boot.

 

No they were not 

[sanemax]

7 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

If so that would be Trump putting money directly into the hands of the downtrodden. Well done Mr. President.

India is quite a rich Country , rather racist/xenophobic for you to label them as "downtrodden" 

[Susco]

4 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Yeah very socialist of him. Take from the wealthy give to the poor and use tax money to do it. 

Since when do the wealthy in the US pay tax? Didn't your "hero" awarded some huge tax cuts on the already minimal tax they already paid?

 

So obviously the money comes from Joe sixpack

Edited February 24, 2020 by Susco

[Cryingdick]

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

No they were not 

 

In the stadium pics I have seen a good deal of them were wearing white hates that said Trump and Namaste. 

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, Susco said:

Since when pay the wealthy in the US pay tax? Didn't your "hero" awarded some huge tax cuts on the already minimal tax they already paid?

 

So obviously the money comes from Joe sixpack

 

Look unless you show some sort of proof they were paid to wear the hats you are just making imaginary arguments that don't exist. 

[sanemax]

Just now, Cryingdick said:

 

In the stadium pics I have seen a good deal of them were wearing white hates that said Trump and Namaste. 

In the video , Indians were either hat less or wearing Turbans and no. you didn't pay for that 

[Susco]

3 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Look unless you show some sort of proof they were paid to wear the hats you are just making imaginary arguments that don't exist. 

 

I will do as soon as you show some proof of the entire imaginary crowd wearing the made in China hats

Edited February 24, 2020 by Susco

[sanemax]

3 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

In the stadium pics I have seen a good deal of them were wearing white hates that said Trump and Namaste. 

And Indians cannot afford hats , unless the USA pays for them   ????

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

In the video , Indians were either hat less or wearing Turbans and no. you didn't pay for that 

 

Okay you win. I'll let you have that one and just settle for four more years.