A U.S. court ruling against President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs has rekindled hope among global exporters of fairer access to the American market, even as the battle shifts to the Supreme Court in October. For India, however, the judgment has also exposed a critical vulnerability — its lack of a coherent response to the tariff shock.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in a 7–4 decision on August 29, ruled that Mr. Trump had exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by declaring trade deficits and fentanyl inflows as “national emergencies” to justify broad tariffs. The judges reaffirmed that tariff powers lie with Congress, not the president.
