Trump’s Tariff Bomb Triggers Chaos in America, Major Court Verdict Awaited

Delhi (The Uttam Hindu)- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 25 percent tariff and additional punitive duty on imports from India. This decision will come into effect from August 1. There is a ruckus in America itself over Trump's arbitrary tariff announcement. On Thursday, the US court will decide whether Trump has violated his constitutional rights by imposing import duty on foreign goods or not?

12 US states and small traders have challenged Trump's tariff power in court. In April and February, Trump imposed heavy tariffs on products coming from China, Canada, Mexico and many other countries. He argued that these steps are necessary to deal with America's economy, jobs and drug trafficking. But now these decisions are stuck in legal troubles. 12 Democratic-ruled states of America and 5 small trade organizations have filed a petition in the court against these decisions of Trump. They say that the President does not have the right to take such a decision alone. According to the Constitution, only the Parliament has the right related to tax and tariff. Trump has used an old law called IEEPA, which was brought to impose sanctions on enemy countries in case of emergency. This law was made in 1977 but this is the first time it has been used to impose tariffs. Trump says that this is a "national emergency" because America is suffering huge losses in trade. The smuggling of fentanyl (a dangerous narcotic substance) coming from abroad is not stopping. However, the countries on which tariffs have been imposed have rejected these arguments of Trump.

Earlier in May, a lower court had said that Trump had exceeded the limits of his powers by imposing tariffs. The court clearly said that laws like IEEPA can be used only in "true emergencies" and not in cases like chronic trade deficit. All 11 judges of the US Court of Appeals will be involved in the hearing that is going to take place today. Of these, 8 have been appointed by Democrats and 3 by Republican presidents. If the decision goes against Trump, then it is believed that this matter can reach the Supreme Court directly.