“Closely Monitoring”: Centre Reacts After US Supreme Court Voids Trump Tariffs

In its first reaction to the US Supreme Court striking down former president Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, the Centre said it is closely assessing the legal and policy implications of the ruling.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Commerce said it has taken note of both the court’s judgment and subsequent announcements made by the US administration. “We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications,” the statement read.

The response follows a 6–3 verdict by the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant a president sweeping authority to impose broad, across-the-board tariffs under emergency powers. The decision is seen as a significant setback to Trump’s trade strategy and could potentially trigger large-scale refund claims.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi said the government would examine the ruling in detail, adding that either the Commerce Ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs would issue a comprehensive response after reviewing its impact.

Trade Deal in Focus

Soon after the verdict, Trump addressed reporters and announced a fresh 10 per cent global tariff, signalling that his trade agenda would continue despite the legal hurdle. He asserted that the existing trade framework with India would remain unchanged, stating that India would continue paying tariffs while the US would not.

Trump also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as “a great man” while claiming that India had previously enjoyed trade advantages over the United States.

The remarks come weeks after an interim India-US trade understanding was announced, under which US tariffs on certain Indian imports were reduced in exchange for specific trade commitments from New Delhi. However, following the court’s decision, a White House official indicated that the newly announced 10 per cent global tariff would temporarily reset rates for major trading partners, including India, while the administration explores alternative legal routes.

Meanwhile, Indian and US officials are scheduled to hold a three-day meeting in the US starting February 23 to finalise the legal text of the interim trade agreement. The Indian delegation will be led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, a joint secretary in the Commerce Ministry.