Indian-origin lawyer Neal Katyal has criticised US President Donald Trump over his decision to impose fresh 15% global tariffs, arguing that the move raises serious constitutional concerns.
Katyal said that if the tariffs are indeed beneficial, the President should seek approval from the US Congress instead of relying on executive authority. He emphasised that under the US Constitution, the power to levy taxes and duties primarily rests with Congress.
The senior advocate questioned the administration’s reliance on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits temporary tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days. Katyal pointed out that the US Justice Department had earlier indicated that the provision had no clear applicability to trade-deficit situations.
The criticism comes in the backdrop of a recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down most of the Trump administration’s earlier tariff framework, finding that the government had exceeded its authority under emergency economic powers.
Trump, however, has defended the tariff move and previously described the court’s intervention as “extraordinarily anti-American.”
Legal experts say the fresh tariff decision could face renewed judicial scrutiny, with Katyal emerging as one of the most prominent critics of the administration’s trade strategy.
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