Three lawmakers in the United States' House of Representatives have introduced a resolution aimed at terminating President Donald Trump's national emergency
declaration that imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on imports from India. The lawmakers called Trump's measures "illegal" and harmful to American workers, consumers, and bilateral ties. This comes as India and the US are negotiating abilateral trade agreement. The resolution, spearheaded by Representatives Deborah Ross, Marc Veasey, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, follows a bipartisan Senate measure to end similar tariffs on Brazil and curb the President's use of emergency powers to raise import duties. According to the release, the resolution seeks to rescind the additional 25 per cent "secondary" duties imposed on India on August 27, 2025, on top of earlier reciprocal tariffs, which together raised duties on many Indian-origin products to 50 per cent under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The resolution is part of a broader push by congressional Democrats to challenge Trump's unilateral trade measures and reset America's relations with India.
"North Carolina's economy is deeply connected to India through trade, investment, and a vibrant Indian American community," said Congresswoman Ross, highlighting that Indian companies have invested over a billion dollars in the state, creating thousands of jobs in sectors such as life sciences and technology, while North Carolina manufacturers export hundreds of millions of dollars in goods to India annually.
"India is an important cultural, economic, and strategic partner, and these illegal tariffs are a tax on everyday North Texans who are already struggling with rising costs," Congressman Veasey added.
Meanwhile, Indian-American Congressman Krishnamoorthi said the tariffs were "counterproductive, disrupt supply chains, harm American workers, and drive up costs for consumers," stressing that ending them would help strengthen US-India economic and security cooperation. "Instead of advancing American interests or security, these duties disrupt supply chains, harm American workers, and drive up costs for consumers. Ending these damaging tariffs will allow the United States to engage with India to advance our shared economic and security needs," Krishnamoorthi added.
Earlier in October, Ross, Veasey, and Krishnamoorthi, along with Congressman Ro Khanna and 19 other Members of Congress, had urged the President to reverse his tariff policies and repair strained bilateral ties with India. "Ending Trump's India tariffs is part of a broader effort by congressional Democrats to reclaim Congress' constitutional authority over trade and to stop the President from using emergency powers to unilaterally impose his misguided trade policies," the release stated.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration had imposed sweeping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, among the highest in the world, citing trade barriers, including an additional 25 per cent levies for Delhi's procurement of Russian crude oil.
India had described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".
Also Read -'If Happy Then...': How Goyal Responded To US Saying It Has Received 'Best-Ever' Trade Deal From India
The development comes as delegations from Washington and New Delhi met to finalise the proposed bilateral trade agreement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington said that the US has received the "best ever" offer from India. Reacting to this, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the US should sign the free trade agreement with India on the "dotted lines" if Washington is happy with what has been offered by New Delhi.
Goyal welcomed the Trump administration's views on India's offer, but refrained from giving a deadline for the signing of the long-awaited free trade agreement between the two nations. "His happiness is very much welcome. And, I do believe that if they are very happy, they should be signing on the dotted lines," Goyal told reporters.
