Trump has sharply criticized the U.S. Supreme Courtroom after it struck down key tariffs from his administration, calling the choice “deeply disappointing” and saying he was “ashamed” of sure justices.
Supreme Courtroom on tariffs
In a major authorized setback for the previous president, the Courtroom dominated Friday that his administration exceeded its authority by imposing sweeping tariffs below a regulation meant for real nationwide emergencies. The choice invalidates a lot of the challenged commerce measures and clarifies limits on presidential energy in financial coverage.
The Courtroom decided that the tariffs on imported items weren’t permitted below the 1977 Worldwide Emergency Financial Powers Act (IEEPA). Nevertheless, not all Trump-era tariffs are affected. Duties on metal and aluminum, enacted below separate authorized provisions, will stay in drive.
The ruling eliminates two vital classes of tariffs, offering notable aid to India’s greater than $50 billion in exports to the USA. These embody the country-specific “reciprocal” tariffspreviously set as excessive as 50% on Indian merchandise (a 25% base price plus a 25% penalty linked to Russian oil imports)—in addition to a 25% tariff on sure imports that the administration mentioned was meant to stress international locations to handle fentanyl trafficking.
Earlier, a February 2026 U.S.–India interim settlement had already lowered reciprocal duties to 18% and launched zero-duty exemptions for prescribed drugs. The Supreme Courtroom’s determination now quickens broader aid and will probably set off refunds from the roughly $130 billion collected below IEEPA via mid-December.
Trump might nonetheless try and reimpose comparable tariffs utilizing completely different authorized authorities. U.S. Customs and Border Safety information present IEEPA-based tariffs generated about $130 billion by mid-December, though Trump has cited figures as excessive as $3 trillion by together with the worth of commerce offers negotiated throughout his administration.
India–U.S. interim commerce settlement
The ruling comes shortly after Washington and New Delhi unveiled a framework for an interim commerce pact designed to advertise extra balanced bilateral commerce.
Underneath the proposed association, India agreed to cut back or remove tariffs on all U.S. industrial items and a variety of American agricultural and meals merchandise. These embody dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), pink sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, contemporary and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, amongst others.
In trade, the USA plans to use an 18% reciprocal tariff on Indian items below Government Order 14257 (as amended). Affected sectors embody textiles and attire, leather-based and footwear, plastics and rubber merchandise, natural chemical substances, house décor gadgets, handicrafts, and sure equipment.
U.S. officers have additionally indicated that when the interim deal is absolutely finalized, reciprocal tariffs could also be lifted on extra Indian exports listed within the Potential Tariff Changes for Aligned Companions annex to Government Order 14346. These merchandise embody generic prescribed drugs, gems and diamonds, and plane parts.