Washington: India and several other U.S. trading partners will now be subject to a flat 10 per cent tariff on exports to the United States, the White House confirmed, following a major setback for President Donald Trump at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The clarification came after the court invalidated a series of sweeping tariffs previously imposed under emergency authorities, ruling that the administration had exceeded its statutory powers. In response, Trump signed a fresh executive order introducing a uniform 10 per cent duty on a broad range of imports.
In a statement posted on social media, the president said the new tariff would take effect “almost immediately.” According to a White House factsheet, the measure is scheduled to begin on February 24 and remain in force for 150 days. Certain sectors—such as pharmaceuticals under separate investigations—are exempt, as are goods traded under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The administration indicated that countries which had already negotiated tariff arrangements with Washington before the court’s decision—including India—will now be covered by the 10 per cent baseline rate, even if earlier understandings involved higher or more specific duties. However, a senior White House official told AFP that the government intends to explore mechanisms to reinstate “more appropriate or pre-negotiated tariff rates” at a later stage.
Earlier this month, the United States and India unveiled a framework for an interim trade understanding after Trump withdrew a 25 per cent punitive tariff linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil and reduced reciprocal duties from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. Trump had asserted that New Delhi agreed to curb direct or indirect imports of Russian energy and expand purchases of U.S. energy supplies.
Trade analysts say the shift to a uniform tariff introduces fresh uncertainty for exporters and investors, particularly those who had recently recalibrated supply chains based on earlier bilateral arrangements. While the administration maintains the move is aimed at protecting domestic industries, economists caution that higher import costs could ripple through consumer markets and strain diplomatic ties.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has reshaped the legal landscape for U.S. trade policy, compelling the administration to rely on narrower statutory tools as it advances its protectionist agenda.
