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The US government has said it will defend in court its decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, maintaining that the system has long been misused and must be overhauled to protect American workers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking on Thursday, said the administration would contest lawsuits filed against the new visa fee, which has drawn criticism from business and industry groups.“The administration will fight these lawsuits in court,” Leavitt said. “For far too long, the H-1B visa system has been spammed with fraud, and that’s driven down American wages. So the President wants to refine this system, which is part of the reason he implemented these new policies. These actions are lawful, they are necessary, and we’ll continue to fight this battle in court,” she added. Her comments came days after the US Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in a district court in Columbia, calling the policy a “misguided” and “plainly unlawful” action that could hurt American innovation and competitiveness. Unions, employers, and religious organisations have also taken legal action in a federal court in California against the new rule. President Donald Trump signed the proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Non-immigrant Workers” on September 19, raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 (approximately ₹88 lakh). The fee applies to new petitions and is seen as part of the administration’s broader effort to tighten the visa system. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Indian nationals account for about 71% of all approved H-1B applications in recent years. US companies typically bear the cost of sponsoring these applicants. The USCIS on Monday issued new guidelines clarifying that the US $100,000 charge will not apply to those seeking a change of status or extension of stay under the H-1B category. In its lawsuit, the US Chamber of Commerce argued that the rule exceeds the president’s authority and violates immigration law. It said that thousands of highly skilled professionals contribute to the US economy each year under the H-1B program and that the new fee could discourage employers from hiring global talent. Under the current cap, the US issues up to 65,000 H-1B visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for individuals holding advanced degrees from American universities.

ET Intelligence Group: Chemical companies are likely to report a mixed performance in the September quarter, as volume recovery in some segments is being offset by weak pricing, oversupply, and subdued demand, resulting in modest top-line gains and largely flat net profits. While specialty and fluorine-based companies are expected to fare better due to higher margins, commodity and agrochemical producers are likely to face earnings pressure. Aggregate estimates from brokerages point to year-on-year sales growth of about 5%, a 4% increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA), and net profit growth of roughly 1% for the sector. While volumes have improved, particularly in specialty chemicals, weak spreads and pricing pressure are likely to limit profitability. EBITDA margins are estimated to contract both sequentially and annually as product prices such as benzene, toluene and acetone have remained significantly lower compared with last year. According to Motilal Oswal Financial Services, most organic compound prices fell sharply in September with butadiene down 31%, benzene 19% and aniline 22% year-on-year, reflecting continued weakness in global demand. Brent crude prices fell to $69 per barrel in the September quarter, down from $80 per barrel a year earlier.124774383 Front-loading of orders ahead of potential US tariffs may have temporarily supported sales, but a slowdown in ordering may emerge in the coming quarters. "A slowdown in ordering by customers after the front-loading that occurred in the past two-three quarters will start to impact the results of some companies this quarter and may become more prominently visible starting the December quarter," noted Kotak Securities in a preview report. Refrigerant gas players such as SRF and Gujarat Fluorochemicals, are expected to do well. Their margins could expand and operating profit may rise in double digits, aided by healthy pricing of R-32 refrigerant gas and robust demand in specialty verticals. "Fluorine-based companies may witness a 13-86% growth in EBITDA, led by higher margins," said Elara Capital. The agrochemicals segment is set for a weaker-than-expected quarter. Axis Securities and Elara have highlighted that excess rainfall across major states has severely disrupted the season, leading to damaged crops and missed spraying rounds. This has impacted the on-ground consumption of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, dimming prospects for a strong recovery. Fertiliser makers, however, may record mild growth supported by steady consumption. In the near term, investors will keenly watch the pace of new project launches, trends in refrigerant and fluorine prices, and US tariff decisions.