US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to ease concerns over Washington’s immigration and trade policies, saying American visa restrictions are not specifically targeting India and tariffs are not intended to damage bilateral relations. During his visit to India, Rubio also expressed confidence that the long-pending India-US trade agreement could be finalised within weeks.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Rubio said the United States was attempting to address longstanding problems in its immigration system rather than target Indian nationals. His remarks come amid concerns among Indian professionals over changes affecting employment-based immigration and the Green Card process under President Donald Trump’s administration.
US Visa Restrictions Raise Concerns Among Indian Professionals
Uncertainty has grown following the reported suspension of eight technology companies from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, an important step in the employer-sponsored Green Card process.
Although the suspension does not directly affect new H-1B visa applications, it has raised questions about the long-term career prospects of foreign professionals seeking permanent residence in the United States.
Indian nationals accounted for 69.9% of H-1B applicants in 2025, with 283,772 applicants, according to the figures cited in the report.
Rubio maintained that Washington’s immigration measures were aimed at addressing enforcement concerns and were not specifically directed at India.
Rubio Says Tariffs Are Not Intended to Punish India
Addressing concerns about US tariffs, including measures linked to countries importing Russian oil and gas, Rubio acknowledged that trade restrictions could affect economic relations and would need careful management.
He said the United States did not intend to use tariffs to punish or harm India.
His comments followed President Trump’s decision to temporarily waive certain sanctions, restrictions and duties targeting major buyers of Russian energy. The decision put on hold proposed measures that could have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries including India and China, pending further action by the US administration.
India-US Trade Deal Could Be Finalised Within Weeks
Rubio described negotiations over the long-pending trade agreement as being on a positive trajectory. According to him, most of the work had been completed, with remaining differences largely involving the interpretation of specific words and phrases.
He expressed confidence that the agreement could be finalised within weeks rather than months, while acknowledging that the remaining details still needed to be resolved.
A completed agreement could provide greater clarity for businesses and exporters dealing with bilateral trade uncertainties. However, Rubio’s comments represent an expectation rather than a confirmed signing date.
Washington Says Pakistan Ties Will Not Come at India’s Expense
Rubio also sought to address concerns in New Delhi over Washington’s engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership.
He said the United States did not view its relationship with Pakistan, or any other country, as a trade-off against its partnership with India.
The remarks come as New Delhi and Washington continue to navigate immigration concerns, tariff uncertainty and negotiations over a broader trade agreement. Whether the assurances translate into concrete policy changes will depend on subsequent decisions by the US administration and progress in bilateral negotiations.
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