Jaipur– U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday reflected on the economic hardships faced by America’s manufacturing communities in recent decades, emphasizing the importance of fair trade partnerships and highlighting India as a trusted friend of the United States.
“Our manufacturing communities have faced economic challenges for many years, and fair trade partnerships are essential to overcoming them. In India, the U.S. has a friend,” Vance said during a keynote address in Jaipur.
At the request of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vance shared his personal story of growing up in Middletown, Ohio — a once-thriving manufacturing town that saw its middle class erode as factories closed and jobs disappeared.
“Middletown isn’t a massive city like Jaipur, but it’s a proud town where generations of families made things with their hands,” Vance said. “People came down from the hills of places like West Virginia, seeking manufacturing jobs, prosperity, and the American Dream.”
He spoke about his upbringing in a working-class household, raised by his parents and grandparents who instilled in him the values of hard work, education, faith, and love of country.
“My grandfather worked a manufacturing job that paid a decent wage and provided a pension. By the time I grew up, money was tighter, but it was still possible to make a good living,” he recalled. “That generation helped build a great American middle class by creating an economy centered around production. Leaders at that time supported the labor force and struck fair deals with global partners for American-made goods.”
However, Vance also recounted the decline that followed when those foundational principles were abandoned.
“Later, other leaders forgot the importance of maintaining a productive industrial base. As a result, factories left, jobs evaporated, and towns like Middletown suffered,” he said. “Middletown’s story is my story, but it’s also the story of millions of Americans.”
Vance stressed that this collective experience awakened many Americans to the need for change.
“Americans have woken up, and thankfully, it’s not too late,” he said. “We want to strike fair deals with our friends and take pride in our heritage, not fall into self-loathing or fear.”
He credited President Donald Trump for consistently championing these issues, underscoring that the current U.S. administration has learned from past mistakes.
“Our President has been consistent on these matters for decades. He deeply cares about ensuring that Americans have access to good jobs and economic opportunity,” Vance said. “Today, I bring a simple message: the United States seeks trade partners based on fairness and shared national interests.”
Vance highlighted the importance of building partnerships with countries that value workers and share common goals.
“We want trade relationships with nations that respect labor and are committed to building things alongside us,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Vance emphasized the historic moment the world is in and the opportunity to reshape global trade into a more balanced and stable system.
“We seek partners who recognize this pivotal moment — to reshape global trade into a system that is open, fair, and stable. Our partners don’t need to be exactly like America, and their governments don’t have to operate exactly as ours does, but we must share common goals,” he said. “I believe India and the United States do share these goals — in both economic growth and national security. That’s why I’m so excited to be here today. In India, America has a friend, and together, we can strengthen this great bond.”
(Source: IANS)
