US to announce new levies soon; 18 per cent tariff on India to change
US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he is raising worldwide tariff rates on countries from 10 per cent to a “legally tested” 15 per cent with immediate effect, sharply criticising a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his earlier sweeping levies.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision followed “a thorough, detailed, and complete review” of what he described as a “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs” issued by the Supreme Court of the United States after months of deliberation.
“Let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries … to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” he said, adding that over the next few months his administration would determine and issue new legally permissible tariffs as part of his “Making America Great Again” agenda.
The move comes a day after the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 verdict written by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled that the tariffs imposed by Trump last year were illegal, holding that the President had exceeded his authority. The court found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorise the imposition of duties. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, with Kavanaugh referring in his opinion to tariffs imposed on India over Russian oil purchases.
Following the verdict, Trump issued a proclamation titled “Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge to Address Fundamental International Payments Problems,” introducing a 10 per cent ad valorem surcharge on imports for 150 days from February 24, 2026. Saturday’s announcement raises that rate to 15 per cent, adding further uncertainty for trading partners monitoring frequent shifts in US tariff policy.
The development impacts India as well. After the court ruling, Indian goods were to face a reduced 10 per cent global levy instead of the earlier 18 per cent rate agreed under a framework for an Interim Agreement on trade between India and the US. With the new hike, that rate now stands at 15 per cent.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an Executive Order removing 25 per cent punitive tariffs imposed on India over Russian oil purchases, noting New Delhi’s commitment to halt direct or indirect energy imports from Moscow and increase purchases of American energy. Under the interim trade framework, Washington had agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent.