H 1B fee challenged as unlawful by 19 states; lawmakers push resolution to end tariffs on India.
Nineteen US states have sued to contest a federal USD 100,000 fee on new H 1B visa petitions as unlawful, challenging the administrative mechanism and its regulatory impact on visa issuance and labor sectors; separately, three lawmakers introduced a resolution to end tariffs on India, invoking congressional authority over trade and oversight of executive tariff measures.

USD 100,000 H-1B fee challenged by 19 states; lawmakers move to end 50% tariffs on India.
Nineteen US states sued to challenge a USD 100,000 administrative fee on new H-1B visa petitions as unlawful and harmful to key labor sectors. Separately, three lawmakers introduced a congressional resolution to end 50 percent tariffs on India, framing the tariffs as counterproductive to a strategic partnership.

Tariffs on India: lawmakers seek to end the national emergency tariffs and rescind added duties disrupting trade.
Lawmakers introduced a House resolution to terminate the national emergency invoked to impose tariffs on imports from India and to rescind the additional duties that raised many Indian-origin product tariffs to 50 per cent, asserting those measures exceed congressional trade authority and disrupt supply chains and commerce.

Holiday shoppers say higher prices are reducing spending, dipping into savings and seeking bargains this season.
A national survey finds most adults have noticed higher prices for groceries, electricity and holiday gifts, leading many to cut nonessential spending, dip into savings, seek lower prices or use buy-now-pay-later options; respondents link sustained price levels and tariff-driven cost pressures to these consumer adjustments, and many expect no meaningful economic improvement next year.

CoalSETU allows long-term coal linkages for any industrial use and up to 50% export and flexible group utilisation.
Approval establishes a new auction window, CoalSETU, within the Non Regulated Sector Linkage Auction Policy to permit long term allocation of coal linkages by auction without end use restrictions, allowing any domestic buyer to participate for industrial use or export. Coking coal is excluded. Linkage holders may export up to 50% of their allocation and flexibly utilise fuel among group companies, creating an end use neutrality framework for non coking coal alongside an explicit export cap and intra group transferability.

CoalSETU window enables long-term auction of coal linkages for industrial use and export, excluding coking coal.
The CoalSETU window creates a mechanism within the NRS Linkage Auction Policy for long term auction allocation of coal linkages for any industrial use and export, excluding coking coal and prohibiting trader participation. Coal allocated under this window may be used for own consumption, coal washing, other purposes, or exported up to 50% of the linkage quantity, but not resold domestically; specified end users may continue under existing auctions and may also participate in this window.

Census 2027 funding approved; Cabinet backs 100% FDI in insurance; Supreme Court stays Munambam waqf notification.
Cabinet approvals: Rs 11,718 crore sanctioned for Census 2027 and a bill approved to raise foreign direct investment in the insurance sector to 100 per cent. Regulatory oversight: competition authority examining whether a major airline violated competition norms; government sources report shortlisted appointments to the Central Information Commission include disadvantaged-group candidates. Judicial actions: Supreme Court stayed a Kerala High Court order on Munambam land as waqf and ordered status quo, and refused to modify its suspension order concerning an enquiry commission and SIT in the Karur stampede matter.

PLI programme incentives boost domestic manufacturing, attract investment and support exports alongside MSME and trade facilitation measures.
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme provides sector specific financial incentives to stimulate domestic manufacturing, attract investment, and boost exports across multiple priority sectors. Implementing Ministries administer incentives, monitor realised investments, production/sales and employment, and report results at departmental and Empowered Group of Secretaries levels. Complementary measures-digital trade infrastructure, export hubs, logistics improvements, trade agreements, and targeted MSME support programmes-are deployed to enhance market access, finance, and capacity utilisation, while sectoral monitoring assesses domestic value addition and export competitiveness.

India's shrimp exports stay strong while policy measures bolster market diversification, certification, infrastructure and targeted financial support.
India's shrimp export performance to the United States remained substantial with multi-year volumes of roughly 0.27-0.34 million tonnes and values of USD 2.3-3.1 billion; government measures focus on market diversification, quality and traceability through MPEDA-led trade promotion and SHAPHARI certification, infrastructure and processing support under PMMSY and FIDF, targeted financial assistance covering portions of capital and testing costs, and a GST reduction to lower input costs and enhance competitiveness.

India's Russian crude imports rose; sanctions and the EU fuel ban are reshaping refining supply chains and exports to Australia.
Sanctions on major Russian oil producers altered trade flows and contractual risk for refiners, causing some private Indian refiners to halt purchases while state owned refineries increased Russian crude intake. The EU bans fuels refined from Russian oil, but Australia, Canada and the US have not enacted equivalent bans, producing shifts in export destinations-most notably increased exports to Australia from a single large Indian refinery-and raising compliance and traceability concerns for exporters and downstream buyers.

SEEPZ calls for auction-based allotment, full transparency, industry-led skilling and infrastructure upgrades to boost exports.
SEEPZ policy directs strengthened transparency and accountability in administrative, customs and approval processes, mandates auction-based allotment and review of unutilised plots to prevent misuse, and calls for full disclosure in maintenance and administrative matters; it promotes decriminalisation and simplified compliance to reinforce trust, and urges industry-led skilling, modern systems adoption and infrastructure upgrades to boost export capacity.

US-India ties strained by tariffs and proposed H1B fees, raising concerns for trade, immigration, and bilateral cooperation.
US lawmakers said a proposed USD 100,000 fee on H1B visas and 50% tariffs on India hurt American businesses and threaten people-to-people ties; trade disputes and renewed US engagement with Pakistan were identified as key obstacles, and resolving tariff differences alongside calibrated diplomatic engagement was urged to preserve bilateral cooperation.

India-US leaders spoke to advance a trade deal aimed at easing steep tariffs and to coordinate on energy and technology cooperation.
The leaders discussed ongoing negotiations to secure tariff relief for India from the US administration's steep duties, with the US Trade Representative describing recent Indian offers as the "best" received, and affirmed work to finalise a bilateral trade framework. The conversation linked trade momentum to expanded cooperation in trade, critical technologies, energy, defence and security, and identified US concerns about India's purchases of Russian crude as a key policy friction affecting broader bilateral engagement.

India US trade talks concluded; negotiations continue toward a bilateral trade agreement aiming to double trade by 2030.
India and the United States concluded two days of talks focused on ongoing negotiations for an India US Bilateral Trade Agreement; six rounds of negotiations have been held, a U.S. delegation led by the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative met senior Indian officials, and both sides agreed to continue engagement toward concluding the first tranche of the pact aimed at more than doubling bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030.

Supreme Court: fundamental rights can yield to national security; central eviction law overrides state rent laws.
The Supreme Court held that fundamental rights may be limited where national security or integrity is at stake and that the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act supersedes state rent laws. Executive measures to tackle fugitives include prompt passport revocation and referrals to trigger proceedings under a law permitting asset confiscation; a domestic court denied transit anticipatory bail in a serious criminal matter and foreign detention of suspects was reported.

India-US trade talks: India resists agricultural concessions; tariff resolution is key to advancing the pact.
Ongoing negotiations toward a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US have completed multiple rounds and high-level contacts; progression to the pact's first phase depends on resolving US-imposed tariffs. The US seeks duty concessions on agricultural and industrial goods, while India resists concessions affecting row crops, dairy and other sensitive farm sectors and insists it will not compromise farmer or MSME interests.

Mexico's new tariffs, US export approvals and a US immigration "Gold Card" reshape cross border trade, defence transfers and migration.
Mexico's legislature approved increased import tariffs on goods from non FTA countries, altering customs and trade obligations for affected exporters and importers. The United States authorised export of advanced technology and support for F 16 jets to Pakistan under defence trade approval mechanisms. The U.S. also announced a high value "Gold Card" immigration pathway affecting residency and citizenship compliance. A Pakistani military court sentenced a former intelligence chief under charges including the Official Secrets Act, and a UK museum burglary involving Indian artefacts raised cultural property protection concerns.

Kolhapuri chappal exports could reach USD 1 billion annually after Prada MoU with Indian artisan cooperatives.
Prada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two Maharashtra government leather corporations to manufacture a limited edition Kolhapuri sandal collection in India with artisans from Maharashtra and Karnataka, framed as an ethical partnership recognising artisan expertise and combining traditional techniques with Prada's contemporary design for retail across select stores and e commerce.

Mexico raises import tariffs on non FTA countries, increasing duties 5-50% across key manufacturing sectors to reduce import reliance.
Mexico's Congress enacted legislation effective January 1, 2026, raising tariffs on imports from non-FTA countries including India, China and Brazil by 5-50 percent across 1,463 tariff categories in sectors such as auto parts, textiles, plastics and clothing, with the government projecting USD 3.8 billion in additional annual revenue and seeking to reduce reliance on Asian suppliers.

Mexico raises tariffs on 1,400+ imports up to 50% to promote domestic production and influence trade negotiations.
Mexico's Congress raised import tariffs on over 1,400 products from non-free-trade-partner countries, with increases up to 50% effective in January, targeting textiles, shoes, appliances, cars and auto parts to promote domestic production. The government links the measure to industrial policy and to leverage in negotiations with the United States over existing U.S. tariffs, while critics warn of supply-chain disruptions and inflationary effects, particularly impacting imports from China.