<h1>U.S. and India reaffirm strategic partnership, deepen cooperation on trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, pursue trade pact by 2030</h1> U.S. and Indian officials held high-level talks on the margins of the UN General Assembly, reaffirming the bilateral relationship's strategic importance and cooperation on trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals and critical minerals, and committing to a free and open Indo-Pacific through multilateral frameworks. The meeting occurred amid trade tensions, including U.S. tariffs on Indian imports linked to Russian energy purchases and a recent U.S. proclamation imposing a large fee on new H-1B visas. Both sides agreed to continue negotiations toward an early bilateral trade agreement aimed at significantly expanding two-way trade by 2030.