U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the United States will not repeat past policy errors with India that it made with China.
This shift in approach signals a more cautious strategy toward economic integration. By prioritizing fairness to American interests, Washington seeks to avoid the systemic trade imbalances and geopolitical friction that emerged from its previous engagement with Beijing.
Landau said these remarks in May 2026 during a visit to New Delhi [1]. He said that while the U.S. values its partnership with India, future economic engagement must be structured to ensure it is fair to the American people [1].
Addressing the historical context of U.S. foreign policy, Landau specifically referenced the timing of previous strategic missteps. "We are not going to make the same mistakes with India that we made with China 20 years ago," Landau said [2].
The Deputy Secretary's comments highlight a desire to build a reciprocal relationship with India. This approach aims to prevent the creation of a trade environment where one partner gains a disproportionate advantage at the expense of the other, a dynamic the U.S. believes characterized its early relations with China [1], [2].
Landau's visit to the Indian capital underscores the importance of the bilateral relationship in a shifting global economy. By setting these expectations early, the U.S. is attempting to establish a framework for trade and investment that protects domestic workers and industries, while fostering growth in New Delhi [1].
“"We are not going to make the same mistakes with India that we made with China 20 years ago."”
The U.S. is applying 'lessons learned' from its engagement with China to its current relationship with India. By explicitly mentioning a 20-year window of errors, the U.S. is signaling that it will no longer prioritize market access or geopolitical alignment over fair trade terms and domestic economic protection.
