Trade Relations - India's Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, is visiting the U.S. to discuss a "mutually beneficial" trade agreement aimed at resolving tariff tensions, particularly regarding U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and oil imports from Russia [2][4] - The U.S. has imposed a 50% tariff on most Indian goods and an additional 25% tariff on Russian crude oil purchases, significantly affecting Indian exporters in labor-intensive sectors [3][4] - The goal is to finalize a bilateral trade agreement by autumn 2025, with a target to increase bilateral trade from $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030 [4] H-1B Visa Policy - A new executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump imposes a $100,000 one-time fee for H-1B worker visas, causing confusion among visa holders, particularly from India and China [5][6] - Major tech firms have advised employees to return to the U.S. before the deadline due to fears of potential re-entry restrictions [5][6] - The administration claims the H-1B program has been exploited to lower wages, while supporters argue it is essential for attracting skilled talent [6] Automotive Industry - Mitsubishi Motors achieved a significant victory in the Asia Cross Country Rally 2025, outperforming Toyota despite budget constraints [10][11] - This win marks Mitsubishi's first rally triumph in three years and highlights the company's strategic improvements under financial pressures [11]

India on Tuesday described its latest trade talks with the U.S. as "positive" after tensions mounted late last month when President Donald Trump put 50% tariffs on Indian imports.  While the details of the talks remain unclear at this time, a statement released by the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C. said the discussions were varied and "forward-looking" as the two sides look to hash out bilateral trade. "It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreem ...