NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday said that India is closely “studying all developments and implications” of the US Supreme Court’s ruling striking down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs across the world.In its first statement, the ministry of commerce & industry said, “We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. 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,” it added.The remarks come a day after the Supreme Court of the United States, in a 6–3 verdict, ruled that Trump’s sweeping global tariffs violated federal law. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, held that the tariffs exceeded the scope of the law.Following the setback, Trump termed the ruling a “terrible decision” and announced a new 10% global tariff “effective immediately.”Invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, Trump said he would sign an executive order imposing the additional levy.This provision allows the US president to impose a temporary import surcharge of up to 15% for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits.“Effective immediately, all the national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs remain in place… Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged,” Trump said.Trump also asserted that the India-US trade deal would remain unaffected.“Nothing changes, they’ll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs. So, the deal with India is they pay tariffs. This is a reversal for what it used to be,” said Trump.“I think Prime Minister Modi is a great gentleman, a great man, actually, but he was much smarter than the people that he was against in terms of the United States. He was ripping us off, India. So we made a deal with India, it’s a fair deal now, and we are not paying tariffs to them and they are paying tariffs. We did a little flip,” he added.However, when further asked whether India will have to pay a 10% tariff and whether it would replace previous tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a White House official said, “Yes, 10% until another authority is invoked.”

New Delhi: After the US Supreme Court struck down reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration, the White House has released a Fact Sheet, explaining that Trump has now invoked his authority under “Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974”, which empowers the President to address certain “fundamental international payment problems” through surcharges and other special import restrictions. 

The Proclamation imposes, for a period of 150 days, a 10 per cent “ad valorem import duty on articles imported into the United States. The temporary import duty will take effect February 24 at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time.”

Notably, some goods will not be subject to the temporary import duty because of the needs of the US economy or to ensure the duty more effectively addresses the fundamental international payments problems facing the United States.

These include certain critical minerals, metals used in currency and bullion, energy, and energy products, natural resources and fertilisers, certain agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients; certain electronics; passenger vehicles and more.

In addition, the President has directed the Office of the United States Trade Representative to use its section 301 authority to investigate certain unreasonable and discriminatory acts, policies, and practices that burden or restrict US commerce.

“The United States faces fundamental international payment problems, in particular a large and serious balance-of-payments deficit. As a result of its loss of domestic production, the United States must import much of what it consumes, sending US dollars out of our own economy and overseas,” the statement argued.

Tariffs imposed under Section 122 automatically expire after 150 days unless Congress votes to extend them. While the time limit is explicit, trade experts note that the President could allow the measures to lapse and potentially reintroduce them by declaring a fresh balance-of-payments emergency.

Unlike several other trade laws, Section 122 does not require a formal investigation before tariffs are imposed, allowing rapid action, according to multiple reports. President Trump has also suggested that other trade statutes remain under consideration, underscoring that the Supreme Court ruling targeted a specific legal pathway rather than tariffs themselves.