US Congressional Hearing Examines Strained India-US Trust Amid Tariff and Visa Disputes

Congressional Scrutiny on Bilateral Relations

A recent United States congressional hearing, convened by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, brought to light growing concerns over the state of political trust between India and the US. The hearing, held on Wednesday, December 10, saw lawmakers and policy experts critically assess the impact of recent US policies, including tariff impositions and visa restrictions, on the strategic partnership.

Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a ranking member of the subcommittee, issued a stark warning, suggesting that President Donald Trump's policies risked making him 'the president who lost India'. She accused the administration of squandering decades of diplomatic capital through its approach.

Tariff Battles and Economic Impact

A central point of contention was the Trump administration's imposition of significant tariffs on Indian goods. Lawmakers criticized the 50% tariffs on Indian goods and a 25% tariff on India-linked Russian oil imports, noting these were among the steepest applied to any US partner.

These tariff measures were described as damaging to both the Indian economy and American businesses and consumers. Representative Pramila Jayapal cited an instance of a fifth-generation family-owned company in Washington state that relies on agricultural products from India, stating that these tariffs represented 'the greatest threat to their business in over 120 years'.

H-1B Visa Restrictions Draw Condemnation

The hearing also focused heavily on new visa restrictions, specifically a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. This policy drew widespread condemnation, with critics arguing it directly harms people-to-people ties and is a 'rebuke of the incredible contributions Indians have made to science, technology, medicine, and the arts in the United States'.

It was highlighted that Indians hold approximately 70% of H-1B visas, making the fee particularly impactful on the Indian community and their contributions to the US economy. Lawmakers warned that such policies could push India towards other global groupings like BRICS and the SCO.

Strategic Partnership at a 'Political Standstill'

Expert witnesses, including Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation and Dhruva Jaishankar from the Observer Research Foundation America, acknowledged that the relationship had entered 'choppy waters' and was at a 'political standstill' due to these disputes.

Despite the bipartisan consensus on India's importance as a strategic partner, particularly in countering China and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, concerns were raised that current policies were eroding the trust built over decades. The combined effect of these decisions was also cited as a factor in the postponement of the Quad Leaders Summit.