Big news from Washington D.C.! Despite a major legal setback from the Supreme Court regarding his broader tariff powers, US President Donald Trump has assured the world that the trade deal between India and the United States is still very much alive. “India-US trade deal is on,” he declared, even as the nation’s highest court struck down his sweeping emergency tariffs as illegal.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump highlighted his “fantastic” relationship with India and a “great” bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He proudly stated that India had scaled back its oil purchases from Russia at his request, shifting towards American energy – a move he linked to efforts to address a significant global conflict.
The Supreme Court’s decision was a big deal. In a 6-3 ruling, they essentially said Trump couldn’t just impose tariffs without getting Congress’s approval, ruling that he violated federal law. This put a dent in his broader tariff strategy.
However, Trump wasn’t backing down. He called the court’s verdict “deeply disappointing” but insisted it wouldn’t derail his trade plans. He even claimed to have “stronger” alternatives up his sleeve for revenue generation.
Regarding the India deal specifically, Trump emphasized a “flip” in how things used to be. “They’ll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs,” he explained, framing it as a fair agreement after previous administrations were supposedly “ripped off.” Earlier this month, a framework for an interim trade agreement was announced, involving tariff cuts from the US side and an agreement from New Delhi to pivot from Russian oil to American energy products.
So, despite the legal drama, Trump’s message is clear: the India-US trade deal stands, perhaps just with a few strategic adjustments.
