Miscellaneous
Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Jeff M. Smith (Research Fellow, South Asia, in The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, and author of “Cold Peace: China-India Rivalry in the Twenty-First Century”) about President Donald Trump’s ongoing visit to India (Feb 2020) and the issues on the agenda for this visit. Mr. Smith discusses the dynamics of trade relations between the two countries in light of the suspension of India’s GSP status. How does the revocation of privileges accruing from India’s status as developing nation get affected by USTR's clarification of India as a developed nation before President Trump's visit? Mr. Smith cautions against India's excessive partisanship towards the Trump presidency and endorses a broader political outreach. He also discusses the convergence of India-US interests over China and the larger Indo-Pacific strategy and ends with remarks on India’s possible role in US's policy on Afghanistan.