Supreme Court Delivers Blow To Trump’s Tariffs: India’s Exports Set For Relief
Court's Ruling Curbs Emergency Tariff Powers, Eases Burden on Indian Trade
Washington : In a pivotal decision with worldwide repercussions, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday nullified a large segment of President Donald Trump’s broad tariff policies, representing one of the most notable judicial setbacks during his second presidency.
The ruling, decided by a 6-3 margin and authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, determined that Trump overreached his powers by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for tariffs typically reserved for national emergencies.
This invalidation targets Trump’s country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs, which included a baseline 10% rate for much of the globe, alongside a 25% duty on certain products from Canada, China, and Mexico linked to fentanyl issues.
For India, the implications are particularly favorable. The nation had been hit with a 26% reciprocal tariff unveiled on “Liberation Day” in April 2025, subsequently revised to 25%. With the court’s verdict, these IEEPA-derived charges are now void, resulting in zero reciprocal tariffs on the majority of Indian exports to the U.S.
Separately, India had encountered a 25% “penalty” tariff due to its purchases of Russian oil, but this was rescinded earlier this month following a trade agreement between India and the U.S. Under that pact, the reciprocal rate was slated to drop to 18%, though the Supreme Court’s action renders that adjustment unnecessary.
That said, the decision spares tariffs on steel and aluminum, which Trump enacted via alternative legal mechanisms. Consequently, Indian shipments of these materials will still face the preexisting duties.
Overall, while not dismantling every aspect of Trump’s trade barriers, the Supreme Court’s intervention curbs the use of emergency authority for such measures, offering a reprieve to nations like India amid ongoing global trade tensions.
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