10% To 15%, Never-Used Law, India Impact, And The Politics Of It: How Trump’s Tariffs Look After SC Ruling

Final Updated:February 22, 2026, 17:18 IST

Many well-known economies, including India, China, South Korea, and Brazil, are inclined to observe their tariffs fast lowered to 15% from beforehand bigger “reciprocal” levels

The drama continues as US President Donald Trump escalated his alternate offensive by increasing world tariffs to 15 percent, hours after the Supreme Court struck them down as unlawful.

Following what he referred to as a “unpleasant possibility” by the US Supreme Court, President Trump signed a proclamation, first on Friday (February 20) for a 10 percent levy only to jack it up to the statutory maximum of 15 percent on Saturday (February 21) via social media.

Trump remained defiant in the face of the SC ruling, claiming that his administration has “great alternatives” that will presumably perhaps notify in “extra cash” and make the United States “a lot stronger”. He lashed out on the judiciary, announcing he used to be “ashamed” of the conservative judges who ruled against him and labelling the liberal wing a “disgrace”.

Now, his most up-to-date switch creates a complex shift within the realm alternate panorama. Many well-known economies, including India, China, South Korea, and Brazil, are inclined to observe their tariffs fast lowered to 15 percent from beforehand bigger “reciprocal” levels.

For instance, as per a report published by The Indian Express, India’s effective incidence of duties, which had reached as high as 50 percent for some goods, is now set to drop to this flat 15 percent rate starting February 24. Conversely, countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Saudi Arabia will face higher tariff rates than before.

While some critical products like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and aerospace goods remain exempt, the US expects trading partners to continue abiding by previous concessions even as their negotiated agreements are superseded by this global levy.

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Here is all you need to know:

How Will Trump’s Global Tariffs Work Now And What Comes Next?

The Trump administration has implemented the new 15 percent global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision intended to address “large and serious” balance of funds deficits.

Unlike Trump’s old approach, this authority is strictly short-timeframe, lasting for a range of effective 150 days unless the US Congress votes to lengthen it. To carry out sure the tariffs stay sturdy past this 5-month window, he has ordered the US Trade Representative (USTR) to provoke recent investigations below Allotment 301 into “unfair” trade practices.

These investigations, which can take up to a year, are intended to pave the way for more legally “durable” and potentially bigger nation-particular responsibilities. Within the length in-between, the administration will continue to make expend of Allotment 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to retain alternate-particular taxes on steel and aluminium for national security reasons.

What Is The Impact Of The Most contemporary Tariffs On India And Numerous Nations?

For India, the ruling and subsequent 15 percent pivot symbolize a essential strategic reset. Beforehand, Indian imports faced a 25 percent reciprocal levy, which rose to 50 percent for products linked to India’s like of Russian oil.

In maintaining with reports, below the recent flat charge, then as soon as more, roughly 55 percent of India’s exports to the US will more than doubtless be free of these excessive reciprocal responsibilities, reverting to standard charges plus the 15 percent surcharge.

China, Mexico, and Canada can even note the elimination of particular “trafficking tariffs” related to fentanyl, though Mexican and Canadian goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be largely exempt. But experts have warned that this shift diminishes Trump’s negotiating leverage, as partners may now reconsider or abandon trade deals that were originally negotiated under the threat of the now-illegal IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) levies.

What Is The Law Trump Used Now Versus The Original Law?

The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump overstepped his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose taxes.

The court held that the US Constitution assigns the power to create taxes to Congress, not the president, and that the IEEPA was intended for regulating commerce during emergencies — such as placing sanctions — rather than raising revenue. To circumvent this, Trump turned to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a never-before-used statute designed for balance-of-payment emergencies.

While Section 122 allows for faster action than other trade laws, it is limited by a 15 percent cap and a 150-day duration, whereas the IEEPA had allowed him to unilaterally impose tariffs of up to 50 percent indefinitely.

What Is The Refunds Issue Outlined By The Supreme Court?

The invalidation of the IEEPA tariffs has caused a massive financial and legal headache regarding $130 billion to $175 billion in collected revenue.

While the SC struck down the tariffs, it offered no guidance on how to return the money, leaving the issue to be decided by lower courts. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the revenues are now “in dispute” and the refund project can also very properly be “dragged out for weeks, months, years”.

Businesses must sue individually to recover their funds, a process that has already witnessed more than 1,000 corporate entities initiate legal action. Trump has predicted that these potential refunds will be locked up in litigation for the next five years.

What Are The Political Implications For Trump?

Politically, the ruling is being viewed as a major rebuke of Trump’s “go-it-alone” methodology and a uncommon take a look at on his executive energy.

The timing is amazingly sensitive as the midterm elections methodology in November, with Republicans defending slim majorities in Congress. While Trump has claimed that the ruling makes him “stronger”, it actually curtails his fastest tool for imposing broad economic penalties.

Public opinion has also soured, with polls showing 62 percent Americans disapproving his tariff policy as costs rise for consumers. Some tariff-sceptical Republicans may now feel emboldened to break ranks, viewing the court’s decision as a “gift in disguise” that permits the birthday party to distance itself from unpopular alternate gambits that personal contributed to stagnant GDP boost, as reported by CNN.

The disaster reached a head following a snappily sequence of events: on Friday morning, the SC issued its 6-3 ruling hanging down the IEEPA-basically based utterly tariffs as an unconstitutional exercise of Congressional energy. By Friday afternoon, Trump reacted by signing an executive notify for a 10 percent world tariff to interchange them straight. Finally, on Saturday, he acknowledged on social media, he has increased that charge to 15 percent.

(With agency inputs)

Data world 10% To 15%, Never-Passe Law, India Impact, And The Politics Of It: How Trump’s Tariffs Query After SC Ruling

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