Trump Raises Global Tariff to 15% After Supreme Court Ruling
On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a hike in the global tariff he plans to impose, increasing it from 10% to 15%. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling which indicated that he lacked the emergency powers to impose certain tariffs.
Trump communicated his decision via social media, noting it was based on his “thorough and detailed review” of the Supreme Court’s “poorly written” decision regarding tariffs. After the court’s ruling, he signed an executive order allowing him to bypass Congress and introduce a 10% tax on imports for a limited time of 150 days, unless extended by new legislation.
Impact on India
The latest changes bring more uncertainty for countries like India. Last year, India faced a 25% tariff from the U.S., which was later increased to 50% due to additional duties on oil imports from Russia—an action taken in response to the conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier this February, Trump had reduced the reciprocal tariffs on India to 18% after both nations agreed on a framework for a trade deal. Now, with the proposed 15% global tariff, India’s effective rate would stand at approximately 18.5%, showing only a small change from the recent agreement.
The Supreme Court Ruling and Trump’s Response
The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Trump’s imposition of tariffs under emergency powers was unconstitutional. The decision, made with a 6-3 majority, stated that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President the ability to impose tariffs.
In response, Trump expressed his disappointment, criticizing the judges for their ruling. He described them as “disloyal to our Constitution” and expressed embarrassment over the decision. Shortly after, he announced the new global tariff, clarifying that countries with trade agreements, including India, would see their tariffs temporarily reduce to 10% before any new duties are implemented.
Earlier in the day, Trump praised the dissenting judges in the Supreme Court, calling them his “new heroes” and emphasizing their desire to “Make America Great Again.”
