Jaishankar meets Rubio amid tariff tensions, H-1B visa row; what the top US diplomat said

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the high-level 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

“Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York,” Jaishankar posted on X. “Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch.”

Rubio, in a separate post, said the discussion focused on “key areas of our bilateral relationship, including trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals and more to generate prosperity for India and the United States.”

A readout from the US State Department said Rubio “reiterated that India is a relationship of critical importance to the United States” and appreciated New Delhi’s continued engagement on trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals.

Both sides agreed to “continue working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad.”

The meeting came against the backdrop of growing trade tensions and fresh immigration-related frictions between the two countries.

Washington recently imposed steep tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods, including a 25% penal levy over India’s oil purchases from Russia.

US President Donald Trump last week signed a proclamation sharply increasing visa fees and tightening entry norms for high-skilled foreign workers. The order mandates a USD 100,000 annual fee for companies hiring new H-1B workers, a move likely to affect Indian IT firms.

A White House official clarified that the fee applies only to new applicants and could face legal challenges.

Jaishankar’s meeting with Rubio is the first face-to-face interaction between them following Trump's imposition of an additional 25% tariff on India for Delhi's purchases of Russian oil.

They had last met in July in Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Their meeting takes place on the same day India and the US will hold discussions to achieve an early conclusion of a trade agreement.

Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium.