Jaishankar Meets US Secretary Marco Rubio Amid Tariff Tensions, Trade Talks Gain Momentum:

New York, Sept 23: In a significant diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), as the two leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral and global issues, including the recent strains in Indo-US trade relations. This was the first face-to-face meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio since U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for continuing its purchase of Russian oil. The hike brings total tariffs on India to 50%, sparking strong reactions from New Delhi. Despite the tensions, Secretary Rubio reiterated the strategic importance of the India-US partnership. “India remains a relationship of critical importance to the United States,” he said in a statement released by the U.S. State Department. He also appreciated India’s continued engagement on key sectors including defense, pharmaceuticals, energy, critical minerals, and technology. The meeting comes at a time of heightened concern in India, particularly following Trump’s recent announcement of a steep $100,000 one-time H-1B visa fee for certain petitioners. The announcement caused anxiety among Indian tech giants like Meta and Microsoft, who heavily rely on H-1B talent. Amid growing confusion, the White House issued a clarification: the fee is not an annual charge, and it will not apply to existing H-1B visa holders who are re-entering the U.S. “This is a one-time fee applicable only at the petition level,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed. Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday, is scheduled to hold several bilateral and multilateral meetings throughout the UNGA week. He will deliver India’s national statement at the General Debate on September 27. Goyal Pushes Trade Deal in Parallel Talks In a parallel development, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also held high-level talks with the U.S. delegation in New York. Goyal met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in an effort to fast-track negotiations on a long-pending bilateral trade agreement. This marks the third meeting between Goyal and Greer this year, following earlier rounds in March and May. According to a statement from India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, both sides are keen to build on the positive momentum established during recent interactions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump. “The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement,” the ministry stated. The talks follow a round of discussions held in New Delhi on September 16 between U.S. Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and India’s Rajesh Agrawal. Notably, on the same day as those talks, President Trump also called Prime Minister Modi to wish him on his 75th birthday. PM Modi, in turn, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the India-US partnership. Bilateral Trade on the Rise India’s Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran expressed optimism about resolving the ongoing tariff issues within the next two months. Speaking at an industry event in Kolkata on September 18, Nageswaran said he believed Washington may soon reconsider the 25% tariff hike related to Russian oil purchases. Trade talks had previously stalled but resumed earlier this month after President Trump confirmed that negotiations were back on track. A proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) is currently in progress, with the goal of concluding the first phase by fall 2025. So far, five rounds of discussions have been completed. The U.S. remains India’s largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year, with bilateral trade reaching $131.84 billion in 2024-25. Exports to the U.S. stood at $86.5 billion, while the country accounted for over 18% of India’s total goods exports. With Jaishankar and Goyal leading key discussions, both nations appear to be pushing hard for a reset in relations and an early breakthrough on trade.

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