US President Donald Trump expressed frustration after the Supreme Court curtailed his authority to impose tariffs, weakening his leverage in ongoing trade negotiations. India, which had deferred a trade delegation visit to Washington, now finds itself in a favourable position to revisit commitments under the interim trade deal framework.
Experts suggest Trump’s social media post warning countries against “playing games” may be indirectly directed at India, given his history of using the term “ripped off” in bilateral trade discussions. Despite the setback, India can potentially benefit from the reduction in tariff pressure—from the previously agreed 18% to Trump’s 15% global levy—while exercising caution to maintain diplomatic and economic balance.
The ruling also affects other countries, including the UK and EU, who have paused trade deal ratifications, giving India a strategic advantage in negotiations. The situation reinforces the importance of careful, long-term trade planning over hasty deals imposed under political or legal pressure.
