US Claims 'America First' Policy in Trade Ties with India, Citing “Lessons” from China

New Delhi: As the war involving Iran, Israel and the USA continues, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau claimed that President Donald Trump's "America First" approach continues to guide US economic and foreign policy, prioritising American interests while allowing room for cooperation with partners like India.

Landau highlighted the recent February 2026 US-India interim tariff framework, which reduced steep US tariffs on certain Indian goods from as high as 50% in some cases to 18%, as a practical example of this policy in action.

He described the deal as negotiated firmly through an "America First" perspective to safeguard US jobs, industries, and economic advantages.

Drawing a clear line from past experiences, Landau stated that the US has "drawn lessons" from its earlier engagement with China, particularly the decision to support Beijing's entry into the World Trade Organisation two decades ago.

That move, he noted, was based on expectations of gaining access to a massive market and efficient supply chains, but ultimately led to China surpassing the US in numerous commercial sectors.

"India should understand," Landau remarked, "we're not going to make the mistakes we made with China 20 years ago... We're going to make sure that what we do is fair to our people."

He clarified that "America First" does not equate to isolationism or "America alone," explaining that national goals can often be advanced through partnerships with other nations.

"Just as President Trump wants to make America great again, he would expect the Prime Minister of India or other leaders to want to make their countries great again," Landau said, framing the policy as a form of mutual respect for national priorities rather than unilateral dominance.

Landau also expressed optimism about India's rising global role, predicting that "this is going to be a century in which we expect to see the rise of India."

He stressed the importance of "mutual benefit rather than altruism" in bilateral relations, positioning the US as eager to partner with India on defence, critical minerals, energy, and supply chain resilience, while avoiding arrangements that could unintentionally create future economic rivals.

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