Goyal Says US ‘Afraid Of Indian Talent’ Over H-1B Fee Hike, Urges Them To Return Home And Accelerate India’s Growth

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who will visit the United States on 22 September for the next round of trade talks, has reacted to President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, Hindustan Times reported.

“They want to increase trade with India. They want to improve relations,” Goyal said in a video clip shared on his X handle. He added, “They are also a little afraid of our talent. We have no objection to that either.”

He urged Indian talent to “come to India, innovate here, design here,” emphasising that this would accelerate economic growth.

Goyal also highlighted the government’s focus on facilitating business in India, promoting manufacturing, and supporting international trade.

“The growth achieved was 7.8 per cent in the first quarter,” he noted.

“It beat all economists' expectations, and we will continue to beat them right up to 2047,” the target year set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a developed India, or ‘Viksit Bharat’.

The H-1B visa fee hike follows other US moves, including high trade tariffs that stalled deal negotiations in August.

Talks resumed on 16 September, when a US delegation led by Brendan Lynch met Indian officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal in New Delhi. Both sides called the discussions “positive.”

India’s exports to the US fell to $6.86 billion in August from $8.01 billion in July, with exporters warning that the full impact of higher 50 per cent tariffs would be felt from September.

Goyal’s upcoming Washington visit aims to accelerate negotiations for a mutually beneficial trade agreement.

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