Joe Biden's choice of Kamala Harris as his running mate in the US presidential election suggests that the Democratic senator and former prosecutor, whose mother is Indian, will likely take a more assertive stand on human rights issues in India while simultaneously easing restrictions on the movement of skilled professionals, which have been stifled by the current administration.
Impact on India-
The presidential contest will have a big impact on India. Kamala Harris possesses the ability to initiate reforms and facilitate the migration of skilled professionals owing to her critical stance on Indian human rights and governance. However, a comeback by Donald Trump could spark trade negotiations and result in the creation of bilateral agreements outside the purview of the WTO. Every candidate offers unique chances for the USA's relations with India; Trump is more focused on market access and trade policy, whereas Harris places more emphasis on human rights and professional mobility.
Kamala Harris take on India-
Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President of Indian origin, has expressed mixed views on Indian politics. Although Harris has made it clear that she is Indian, she has long been critical of some aspects of Indian politics and governance. Because she upholds universal ideals, she criticizes. She has brought attention to problems with the democratic and human rights systems in India.
As Harris has pointed out, a variety of laws and regulations have had an impact on India's democracy and human rights record. She usually talks about how things need to change to follow democratic principles, which could be seen as a criticism of the current political strategies used by the Indian government. However, her wider support for robust U.S. policy contrasts with this criticism. The focus of relations with India is on mutual respect and cooperation despite differences.
Harris has also underlined the necessity of using caution when navigating laws and regulations that are advantageous to Americans, especially those about trade and international relations. This aligns with her broader perspective of using diplomacy to fairly balance national and international interests.
Donald Trump take on India-
After an attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump, he is currently leading President Joe Biden in the race for the November elections. During his prior administration, Trump referred to India as the tariff king; however, in May 2019, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) restored India's preferential trade status. He criticized India for not providing the U.S. with increased import taxes on steel and aluminum from India, as well as fair and reasonable access to its markets. India raised tariffs on several US goods in retaliation.
Despite these trade tensions, India presents a substantial market for American companies, and both nations had been working toward a trade agreement during Trump's first term. After Trump visited India in 2020, there was optimism about finalizing a deal by year-end, but negotiations stalled following his election loss to Biden.
India is a big market for US companies, but during Trump's first term, the two countries were unable to come to a trade agreement. Following his visit to India in 2020, Trump was hopeful that a deal could be reached, but his electoral defeat made that unlikely. There is speculation that, should he choose to seek reelection, Trump might choose to pursue bilateral agreements or trade negotiations outside of the WTO.