Donald Trump has once again unleashed a tariff bomb following a setback in the US Supreme Court. The court ruled Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on various nations as illegal. In immediate response, President Trump announced a 10% global tariff on all countries. Within 24 hours, he struck again, hiking it to 15%. Indian-American lawyer Neel Katyal, who previously challenged Trump in the Supreme Court, poses significant questions about this move.
From 10% to a Steeper 15% Global Tariff
President Trump has recently increased the global tariff. Through a post on the social media platform Truth Social, he declared an immediate rise from 10% to 15% on tariffs affecting countries worldwide. Reiterating his stance, he claimed that many nations have exploited America for decades, and this tariff move is a response to that. He also emphasized the legality and thorough vetting of this tariff hike.
Lawyer Neel Katyal Questions the Action
After a Supreme Court ruling on Friday, Trump imposed a 10% tariff. By Saturday, using alternative statutory routes, he further increased this to 15%. Neel Katyal, the Indian-American lawyer known for his courtroom battles against Trump’s tariffs, criticized this global tariff.
Source: aajtak
On social media platform Twitter (now X), Katyal highlighted, 'Relying on Section 122 doesn't seem feasible for President Trump, especially when the DOJ conveyed contrary views to the Supreme Court on this matter.' He further elaborated that there’s no clear application of Section 122 here, as Trump cited an emergency linked to a Trade Deficit, whereas Section 122 deals with Balance-of-Payments Deficit conditions.
'Consider Congress for Tariff Impositions'
Neel Katyal further advised that if President Trump aims for extensive tariffs on global nations, he should adopt an American approach by consulting the US Congress. As per Katyal, our Constitution suggests that if Trump's tariff ideas are so beneficial, Congress would have no issues endorsing them.
Who is Neel Katyal?
Neel Katyal is the Indian-American lawyer whose arguments in the US Supreme Court previously countered the Trump tariffs. He argued that the US Congress holds the regulatory power over trade, and President Trump cannot whimsically exercise this power. Born in Chicago to Indian immigrant parents, Katyal is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Yale Law School.
