Washington sources have stated that India has emphatically risen with the US administration the issue of H1B and L1 visas, which have facilitated the entry Indian IT professionals, thereby, immensely benefiting the American economy, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu said.
He said "We raised very strongly the issue of Indian professionals and H1B and L1 visa issues,” Prabhu told reporters here at the end of his official visit to the US during which India held the first trade talks with the US following the election of President Donald Trump.
He said, “We are raising this issue the US economy itself will find it difficult to cope with the reality because the country has immensely benefited by IT professionals penetrating into the market by offering services that have improved their productivity". Meanwhile following Trump’s election on a protectionist platform, the US has announced stricter norms for issuing the H1B and L1 visas.
During his visit over October 25-28, Prabhu held talks with the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer under the framework of the bilateral Trade Policy Forum (TPF) and co-chaired India and US Commercial Dialogue along with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Prabhu said both countries agreed to address the issue of trade deficit by increasing and diversifying bilateral trade. Moreover, he also said India has sought to ease of procedures for export of mangoes and pomegranates to the US.
