Three Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have launched a formal challenge against President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India, introducing a resolution to overturn the national emergency declaration that enabled duties as high as 50% on Indian imports.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The lawmakers assert that the duties—imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—are illegal, counterproductive, and disproportionately harmful to American consumers, businesses, and supply chains.
Taxing Everyday Households
Representative Marc Veasey emphasized the direct financial impact on the public. “These illegal tariffs are a tax on everyday North Texans who are already struggling with rising costs,” he stated, stressing the importance of India as a critical economic and strategic partner.
Representative Deborah Ross echoed this concern, warning that the tariffs threaten North Carolina’s economy, which is deeply linked to Indian trade, investment, and its vibrant Indian American community. She highlighted that the duties risk undermining this “vital economic partnership.”
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi criticized the rationale for the duties, stating they “disrupt supply chains, harm American workers, and drive up costs for consumers,” arguing that ending them would strengthen US-India economic and security ties.
Challenging Presidential Emergency Powers
The congressional action follows a bipartisan effort in the Senate to curb the President’s use of emergency powers to unilaterally impose trade barriers.
The Democrats framed the resolution as a move to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over trade and stop the executive branch from imposing “misguided policies” without legislative consent.
The resolution specifically targets the additional 25% secondary tariffs imposed on August 27, 2025, which were stacked on top of an earlier 25% tariff implemented on August 1, 2025. Trump cited India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as the reason for the trade measures, arguing it helped finance Moscow’s war efforts.
