US Lawmakers Move to End ‘Counterproductive’ Trump Tariffs on India: ‘India Important Partner’

Three influential U.S. lawmakers have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives aimed at terminating the steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on India, branding the policy as an “irresponsible tariff strategy” that “weakens a critical partnership.”

The move, spearheaded by Representatives Deborah Ross (D-NC), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), is a significant legislative effort to restore traditional trade relations and reclaim Congress’s constitutional authority over trade policy.

🛑 Resolution Seeks to Roll Back 50% Tariffs

The resolution specifically targets the national emergency that President Trump invoked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping duties on Indian goods.

• Tariff Hike: The duties currently stand at up to 50% on many Indian-origin products, consisting of an earlier reciprocal tariff plus an additional 25% “secondary duty” that took effect in August 2025.

• The Rationale: The Trump administration linked the steep duties to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, arguing it indirectly supported Russia’s war efforts.

• Lawmakers’ Stance: The sponsoring lawmakers argued that the tariffs are counterproductive and illegal, disrupting American supply chains, harming U.S. workers, and driving up costs for consumers.

“President Trump’s irresponsible tariff strategy toward India is a counterproductive approach that weakens a critical partnership… Ending these damaging tariffs will allow the United States to engage with India to advance our shared economic and security needs,” said Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi.

🤝 Strategic Partnership at Risk

The resolution frames the tariff issue not just as an economic burden, but as a threat to the vital U.S.-India strategic relationship.

• Economic Ties: Congresswoman Ross highlighted North Carolina’s deep economic connection to India, noting that Indian companies have invested over a billion dollars in her state, creating thousands of jobs in key sectors like life sciences and technology. She warned the tariffs “put North Carolina jobs, innovation, and our long-term competitiveness at risk.”

• Strategic Importance: Congressman Veasey emphasized that “India is an important cultural, economic, and strategic partner,” and called the tariffs a “tax on everyday North Texans.”

🏛️ Curbing Executive Emergency Powers

This House resolution follows a similar, bipartisan measure passed in the Senate that aimed to end comparable emergency-based tariffs on Brazil.

The dual efforts signal a strong, growing pushback from Congress across both chambers to limit the President’s use of emergency powers—specifically the IEEPA—to unilaterally raise import duties and conduct trade policy, asserting Congress’s primary role in trade matters.

The resolution represents a major turning point in the ongoing trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington, which have been strained by the high import duties and the looming threat they pose to Indian exports.