Trump Aide Defends India Tariffs as Supreme Court Weighs Legality Over Oil Dispute

US President Donald Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on India is being defended by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as a diplomatic effort to pressure New Delhi into halting its purchase of Russian oil. The Trump administration’s controversial use of emergency powers to levy these reciprocal tariffs, totaling 50%, is currently under legal scrutiny at the US Supreme Court. Lutnick asserted that these tariffs are a tool to “buy justice” and promote peace by urging India to stop buying Russian oil amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Supreme Court is examining whether Trump lawfully employed the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose such sweeping tariffs on multiple countries, including India. Lutnick emphasized that restricting these presidential powers would weaken the US’s ability to maintain global security and mitigate conflicts, expressing confidence that the court will uphold the administration’s actions.

India has strongly opposed the tariffs, labeling them “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” Despite Trump’s claims that India has assured him of significantly reducing its Russian oil imports, New Delhi has maintained that its energy policy is driven by national interest—ensuring affordable and secure supplies for its citizens. Data shows that India remains a major buyer of Russian crude, reinforcing its stance on energy security.

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The tariffs include a 25% reciprocal levy plus an additional 25% penalty specifically targeting India’s purchases of Russian energy products. The Trump administration defends the measures as necessary to address the national emergency caused by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and as a critical element of the President’s push to end the conflict. The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision could have significant implications for presidential authority, international trade, and US-India relations in the complex geopolitical landscape.

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