Trade experts say that Trump’s tariff reduction will force countries that already have trade deals with the US to reconsider them, and India should do the same for the yet-to-be-signed interim agreement. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Even as the US Supreme Court has struck down reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on various countries, including India, several other tariffs are still in place, affecting various sectors, trade analysts and export data show.
Mr. to impose tariffs on other countries. On February 20, the Supreme Court found that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act exceeded his authority as president, and therefore reduced the tariffs.
Impact on trade agreements
Due to this, the countries that have already signed trade agreements with the US will have to reconsider them, and India should do the same with respect to the yet-to-be-signed interim agreement, trade experts said.
“This ruling invalidates country-specific “reciprocal tariffs” and fentanyl-linked duties imposed on imports from major trading partners,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the think-tank Global Trade Research Initiative. “This decision effectively renders the recent trade agreements initiated or terminated by the United States with the UK, Japan, EU, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and India unilateral and ineffective. Partner countries can now find reasons to abandon these agreements.”
The Hindu India has approached the Ministry of Commerce and Industry seeking a comment on whether it will renegotiate the agreement. This report will be updated as and when a response is received.
Other tariffs in play
Immediately after the Supreme Court’s verdict, Mr. Trump said. This section, and the Act, authorizes the President to “resolve certain basic international payment problems through excessive tariffs and other special import restrictions.”
Accordingly, the US will impose a 10% ad valorem duty on imports into the US for 150 days from February 24.
Steel and aluminum still hit
The US also has other tariffs under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
“It remains to be seen how President Trump can still use other laws like Section 232 to raise/keep tariffs on covered products outside of this decision,” said Krishan Arora, partner in India and indirect tax and India investment roadmap leader at Grant Thornton.
Under the Section 232 tariffs, the US has imposed a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. These tariffs will remain and the data shows that they will impact India.
Aluminum and steel exports, together form the fourth largest group of exports for India to the US, as electronics and pharmaceuticals are exempted from tariffs, making aluminum and steel the second largest export group subject to tariffs, followed by precious and semi-precious stones.
According to the latest trade data, in response to the tariffs, exports of these goods to the US fell by nearly 66% in December 2025.
De minimis tariffs are also still in place
The US has suspended ‘de minimis’ exemptions granted to imports worth less than $800 per person per day in August 2025. The import of such goods, from textiles to toys, cosmetics and electronic appliances, attracts country-specific tariffs based on their origin.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision on February 20, Mr. Trump issued an executive order saying he had determined it was “still necessary and appropriate to suspend duty-free de minimis treatment, including for shipments sent through the international postal network.”
This will affect India as many small exporters and e-commerce players have used this de minimis route to send goods to US duty-free consumers.
Published – February 21, 2026 12:05 pm IST
