Core Points - U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that trade talks with India are progressing positively, with a potential visit to India in 2026 if invited by Prime Minister Modi [2][3] - Recent tensions in U.S.-India relations have been attributed to steep tariffs, high fees for H1B visas, and India's oil purchases from Russia [3][5] - Ongoing negotiations may lead to a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 20%, aligning India more closely with other Asian countries [4] Trade Relations - The current tariff rate on Indian exports is 50%, which is higher than the 47% duties imposed on China [3] - Experts suggest that while tariffs may decrease, they are unlikely to reach the levels of Japan and South Korea, which are at 15% due to unresolved issues regarding Russian oil and agricultural imports [5] Oil Imports - Indian refiners have begun to reduce imports of Russian oil following U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies, which will take effect on November 21 [5][6] - Russian oil is currently trading at significant discounts to Brent in Asia, influenced by the reduced purchases from major Indian and Chinese refiners [6] Long-term Outlook - Experts believe that completely phasing out Russian oil is not a realistic goal for India, as the economic benefits of discounted Russian crude may challenge India's current approach [7]

The Trump administration looks set to revamp the H1B visa program, raising the application fee to $100,000 and potentially upending one of the country's signature immigration policies. But what exactly is this program and who does it serve. The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire foreign professionals in so-called specialty occupations, jobs that require at least a bachelor's degree, often in fields like computer science, engineering, or medicine.The idea is to fill labor shortages in areas where US worke ...