• Source:JND
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday  met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York. The talks took place at a critical juncture, with trade frictions and Washington’s recent H-1B visa fee hike dominating the backdrop. Just last week, President Donald Trump unveiled a sharp USD 100,000 increase in annual fees for new visas, a move that could heavily impact Indian tech professionals working in the US.

The talks were regarded as a major step towards attempts to reboot India-US relations, which have experienced turmoil over the past few months but are strategically crucial. Both countries underlined the value of talks, though trade and visa issues dominated the proceedings.

Trade Frictions In Focus

The tariffs have escalated long-standing tensions between Washington and New Delhi. Trump nonetheless recently stated he was sure "no difficulty" would occur in reaching a trade agreement. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was equally in Washington on Monday to advance talks, with a special focus on agriculture, a sensitive area for New Delhi.

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Last week, a US team met with Indian authorities, which New Delhi hailed as being "positive" and "forward-looking." However, the major sticking points are still to be addressed. India has insisted that though it is willing to increase market access, its agricultural population's welfare cannot be sacrificed. "Farmer welfare is a priority," Goyal is quoted as having said to IndiaToday before flying out to the US.

Agriculture and dairy are still key obstacles, with Washington demanding broader access and India pushing to defend its countryside economy.

H-1B Fee Hike Clouds Talks

Adding to the complexity, on Friday Trump announced a steep increase in H-1B visa application fees, from approximately USD 1,700–USD 4,000 to up to USD 100,000 for new visas. The administration claims the move is meant to prompt American employers to hire more US citizens.

The move has alarmed India, which is the single largest beneficiary of the program. According to US government data, Indian nationals accounted for 71 per cent of approved H-1B visas last year. The policy shift has already rattled Indian tech stocks, with shares of several IT giants falling on Monday.

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The program has been a lifeline for Indian talent in the US, with top leaders including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, and co-founder of Perplexity AI Aravind Srinivas all beginning their US careers on H-1B visas.