External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with discussions expected to focus on bilateral ties, trade friction, and the controversial H-1B visa fee hike.

This is the third in-person meeting between the two leaders this year. Their previous encounter took place on July 1 at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington, following an earlier meeting in January shortly after Rubio assumed office.

The latest talks come at a delicate moment in Indo-US relations. New Delhi and Washington have faced strains over trade tariffs and India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Tensions escalated in late August when the US imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, adding pressure on bilateral trade ties.

The meeting also coincides with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Washington, where he is leading negotiations to address trade disputes.

Another key issue expected to dominate the dialogue is President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. The move has unsettled the Indian IT sector, which accounts for a majority of H-1B recipients.

Clarifying concerns, a White House official told IANS that the fee is a “one-time charge” applicable only to new petitions and not to renewals or current visa holders. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also assured that existing H-1B visa holders outside the US will not face additional charges upon re-entry.

The Jaishankar–Rubio meeting is expected to play a crucial role in easing frictions and exploring common ground on immigration, trade, and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.