On Monday, September 22, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the 80th United Nations General Assembly session, and the talks were held on H-1B visa and trade issues after the imposition of US tariffs on India. Undoubtedly, the talks emerged as an effort to strengthen the ties after the US tariffs of 50% on Indian goods that came into effect on August 27, and raise H-1B visa application fees to $100,000.
Not only this, but in a recent development, even Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is likely to visit the US amid India-US Trade Talks and after the imposition of US tariffs.
Escalation of India-US trade talks and raising H-1B visa application fees
In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump applauded PM Modi’s leadership and extended thanks to him for supporting peace efforts in Ukraine. PM Modi responded, committed to strengthening India-US ties amid India-US trade talks. The announcement of Trump’s order to raise H-1B visa application fees to $100,000 has unsettled thousands of skilled workers. Several of them from India, who depend on the programme to work in the American technology sector. However, the White House later clarified that the increase applies only to new applicants, not current visa holders.
The atmosphere heated up in India when the Trump-led administration imposed punitive tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil.