US VP JD Vance, speaking in Jaipur, emphasized fair trade and shared economic interests with India. Sharing personal insights from his hometown, Vance highlighted America’s renewed focus on industrial growth and called India a key friend in reshaping global trade based on mutual respect and national interest.
US Vice President JD Vance emphasized the importance of fair trade and mutual economic cooperation during a visit to Jaipur on Tuesday. Addressing an event attended by business leaders and policymakers, Vance shared a deeply personal story of economic decline in his hometown and underscored the potential of India-US collaboration in creating a fairer, more productive global economy.
“In India, the US has a friend,” Vance said, making a strong case for India as a key partner in America’s economic revival. He began by describing his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio—a once-thriving manufacturing town that saw factories shutter and jobs disappear over the past few decades.
“I come from a long-standing manufacturing town called Middletown. It’s not a massive city like Jaipur, but a decent town where people have made things for generations,” he recalled, adding that generations of Americans, including his own family, built a life around steady industrial jobs.
He explained how that prosperity began to unravel when leadership failed to maintain the foundations of the American industrial base. “Later, other leaders abandoned the principles that built our prosperity,” Vance said. “Factories left, jobs evaporated, and the economy of towns like mine suffered.”
Vance recounted how his grandparents instilled in him the values of hard work, patriotism, and faith—values he believes are essential in shaping a strong, resilient middle class. “My grandfather’s job provided a decent wage and a pension. That generation saw the making of a great middle class,” he noted.
Drawing a connection between his story and the broader American experience, he said, “Middletown’s story is my story. But it’s not unusual—millions of Americans lived this same experience.”
Looking forward, Vance expressed optimism that Americans have recognized the mistakes of the past and are now committed to change. “Our President, Donald Trump, has been consistent on these issues for decades. He cares deeply about ensuring that Americans have good jobs,” he stated.
At the heart of Vance’s message was a call for fair and values-based global trade. “We seek trade partners on the basis of fairness and mutual interest,” he said, stressing that relationships should be built with countries that respect labor and share a vision for equitable economic growth.
Concluding his address, the Vice President said, “We want partners who recognise the historic nature of the moment—to reshape global trade into a system that is open, balanced, stable, and fair. I believe in India, we do. That’s why I’m so excited to be here today. In India, America has a friend—and we need to strengthen these great bonds.”
