Overview

• The meeting on the UNGA sidelines was their first face-to-face since President Donald Trump lifted total tariffs on selected Indian goods to 50 percent, including a punitive levy tied to Russian oil purchases.
• Both sides highlighted continued cooperation across trade, energy, pharmaceuticals and critical minerals, with the State Department calling India a relationship of critical importance.
• Jaishankar and Rubio agreed to keep working together on a free and open Indo‑Pacific, including through the Quad, according to the U.S. readout.
• In parallel, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York, with both governments citing positive recent talks and a decision to intensify efforts toward a bilateral trade agreement.
• The White House clarified the new $100,000 H‑1B fee applies to new applicants rather than current visa holders, as Indian markets and IT firms assessed the cost impact and tariff issues remained unresolved.