As global trade faces one of its most uncertain chapters yet, India and the U.S. are negotiating what could become a defining economic agreement of the decade: a bilateral trade deal aimed at scaling their trade volume to $500 billion by 2030, a fourfold increase from its value in 2024.

But behind the diplomatic handshakes lie tough negotiations and clashing economic priorities.In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with Bipin Sapra, Tax Partner and global trade expert at EY India, to break down what’s really at stake as both nations attempt to find common ground.
At a time when Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have rattled global markets, India and the U.S. have quietly signed the first terms of reference for this ambitious agreement.

So, which sectors stand to gain or lose? Could this be a strategic disruptor to China’s dominance in global trade? And what does it mean for India’s role in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework?

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What if the very reason Indian students choose the U.S. for higher education suddenly disappeared? No, it’s not the allure of Silicon Valley or Ivy League labels we’re talking about OPT: Optional Practical Training. For years, it’s been the launchpad for STEM grads to gain real U.S. work experience after their degree. But that pathway is now under serious threat. In this episode, host Neil Ghai and Prachi Verma are joined by Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of Collegify, and Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, to unpack a new bill in the U.S. Congress that could abolish the OPT program altogether. With Indian students accounting for more than 40% of all OPT approvals last year, this isn’t just a policy shift, it's a potential game-ender. So, what’s driving this move? What’s at stake? And how might it reshape the future for Indian students eyeing the U.S.?

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Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

You can follow Neil Ghai on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin or Stories

You can follow Indrajit Hazra on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin or Stories

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

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SaaS giant Salesforce has always been a disruptor in the tech industry. But it now stands at a point where the future of this industry is being completely reshaped by AI.

In this episode, Marc Benioff, the man behind the CRM major, talks to ET’s tech editor Surabhi Agarwal about Salesforce’ origin, its core ethos, present and future..the last two driven largely by AI.

He elaborates on the company's new technological and business model, focusing on the agentic layers and AI-driven digital labor. He talks about the importance of India as a lucrative market, talent pool and spiritual influence on his work; about challenges such as commoditization of AI agents and Balkanization of tech in the face of new trade wars and export controls. He talks about responsible AI usage and says that US’ perceived lead in the AI race is an illusion.

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After a turbulent week when global markets were battered by Donald Trump’s announcement of high tariffs on the world, there came a sudden reprieve: Trump announced a 90 day pause..on all countries except China. The bourses bounced back in record rallies, even as US and China slapped 125% tariffs on each others’ imports.
It’s a trade war between two of the strongest economies of the world, a three month relief for the rest of the world.
What made Donald Trump pull back? Is it a temporary relief? Will he make good on his tariff threats on other countries if the deals with them don’t fructify? What happens to smaller nations? Is the market bounceback sustainable? How will the Federal Reserve React? And are fears of a US recession allayed for now?
Host Anirban Chowdhury and Chris Watling, founder of Longview Economics talk about these and many other questions

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After more than a week of traumatising global markets with talk of implementing huge tariffs, Donald Trump did a volte face on Wednesday night pausing their implementation on all countries but one: China. It sparked a huge comeback rally in a battered Wall Street. But is this a sustainable turnaround or just a short-lived rebound? On The Morning Brief, ET’s Markets Editor Nishanth Vasudevan speaks to Sankaran Naren, CIO of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, to explore the broader impact of this policy u-turn, the escalating US-China trade tensions, and the implications for Indian markets. Drawing on over three decades of experience, Naren offers valuable perspectives on investment strategy, asset allocation, and whether India can outperform amid global volatility.

You can follow our host Nishanth Vasudevan on his social media: Linkedin & Twitter

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Corner Office Conversation with Maersk’s Keith Svendsen and Chris Cook, Tata, Airtel’s DTH merger: Will 2 Negatives make a Positive?, Tesla Tug-of-War: Maha, AP woo Elon Musk, and more!

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

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Netflix’ popular show Adolescence, once In this episode, Dr Victoria discusses her study on the usage and permissibility of phones in schools and their impact on adolescent mental health. She explores the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among adolescents, the role of smartphones and social media, and examines data comparing schools with and without phone bans. Dr Victoria advocates for a broader approach emphasizing digital education and age-appropriate technology design, rather than outright phone bans.

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President Donald Trump has officially announced reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world, sending global markets into turmoil and shaking up international trade. The move is being called an unmitigated disaster, with little thought seemingly given to how the tariffs were calculated or what rationale supported them.
In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with Biswajit Dhar of the Council for Social Development to unpack the rising tensions in global trade.
As market volatility spikes and investor confidence wavers, the impact of U.S. tariffs is beginning to bite and India is feeling the heat. Key sectors like auto exports, gems and jewellery, textiles, and electronics are facing significant setbacks.
So, how will this new wave of tariffs reshape India’s trade landscape? What’s at stake for businesses and workers on the ground? And critically, how does this tariff salvo align with the bilateral trade agreement India is currently finalising with the U.S.?

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The influencer economy is undergoing a reset, not least due to recent controversies like “India’s Got Latent”. While the number of influencers and their content continue to surge, the brands are now curtailing their extravagant spends on them, exercising greater caution, closely evaluating creators and their content. The video of a controversial slip up, or a careless social media post may suddenly turn up to scuttle a lucrative brand endorsement. Are influencers adapting to survive? Hosts Dia Rekhi speak with Aman Garg, Director & Co-Founder of Ebullient Gaming India, and Pankhuri Harikrishnan, Founder & Director of Fetch Consulting, to explore the true impact of this industry shift and what it means for the future of influencer marketing.

Check out Dia’s other interesting episodes like: Move Aside Tech Bros!, Will Musk’s Starlink Finally Come to India?, The Economics of Terror, Devious Genius: The “Digital Arrests” Scam Pt 1 & Pt 2, India's CCTV Crackdown, and more!

You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & Twitter

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

Credits: Republic TV, NDTV

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