India to push US on skilled worker visas amid trade tensions

Indian officials are set to urge the United States to ease restrictions on skilled worker mobility during trade talks in Washington this week, following President Donald Trump’s abrupt move to clamp down on H-1B visa access.

The issue, which disproportionately affects Indian IT professionals, will be raised by a delegation led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, according to a person familiar with the negotiations, Bloomberg reports.

The discussions come in the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications — a move that directly impacts Indian nationals, who account for nearly two-thirds of all H-1B holders. Indian officials warn the restrictions could jeopardize the country’s $280 billion technology services industry and put thousands of jobs at risk.

Until now, US-India trade negotiations have primarily focused on goods. However, Trump’s latest immigration crackdown has pushed New Delhi to broaden the scope of talks to include the services sector, which comprises more than half of India’s GDP. Indian negotiators will press for greater mobility of skilled professionals — a recurring demand in New Delhi’s recent trade talks with the UK and the European Union.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has not yet commented publicly on the matter.

Trump’s immigration measures are part of a broader trade dispute with India, which has already seen the US slap a 50% tariff on Indian exports — half of which reportedly aim to penalize India for continuing to buy oil from Russia. Despite pressure from Washington, Indian officials maintain they will keep purchasing Russian energy as long as it remains economically viable.

Commerce Minister Goyal is hoping to revive momentum for a phased bilateral trade deal originally slated for completion by fall. Talks resumed last week following a birthday phone call from Trump to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Negotiators described the discussions as “positive.”

On September 22, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, emphasizing that the US-India partnership remains “of critical importance” amid global geopolitical realignments. Despite that, the path to a comprehensive trade agreement remains uncertain.

By Vafa Guliyeva