Three members of the US House of Representatives have introduced a resolution seeking to terminate President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration that led to steep tariffs on imports from India, arguing that the move is illegal and damaging to American economic interests as well as bilateral relations.
The resolution, introduced on Friday by Representatives Deborah Ross, Marc Veasey, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, aims to roll back tariffs of up to 50 per cent imposed on Indian goods under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The lawmakers said the duties have harmed US workers, disrupted supply chains, raised consumer prices, and strained the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi.
The House initiative follows a bipartisan Senate resolution targeting similar tariffs imposed on Brazil and seeks to limit the President’s authority to use emergency powers to unilaterally raise import duties.
According to the statement released by the lawmakers, the resolution would rescind the additional 25 per cent “secondary” tariffs imposed on India on August 27, 2025, which were added to earlier reciprocal tariffs. Together, these measures pushed duties on many Indian-origin products to as high as 50 per cent.
Congresswoman Deborah Ross highlighted the deep economic ties between India and her home state of North Carolina, noting that Indian companies have invested more than $1 billion in the state, creating thousands of jobs in industries such as life sciences and technology. She also pointed out that North Carolina manufacturers export hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of goods to India each year.
“North Carolina’s economy is deeply connected to India through trade, investment, and a vibrant Indian American community,” Ross said, adding that the tariffs undermine these mutually beneficial links.
Congressman Marc Veasey echoed similar concerns, calling the tariffs a hidden tax on American families. “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,” he said.
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi described the tariffs as counterproductive, saying they disrupt supply chains, hurt American workers, and increase costs for consumers. He stressed that ending the duties would help strengthen US-India economic and security cooperation.
“Instead of advancing American interests or security, these duties drive up costs for consumers and damage supply chains,” Krishnamoorthi said, adding that reversing the policy would allow the two countries to work together on shared economic and strategic priorities.
The resolution forms part of a broader effort by congressional Democrats to challenge what they describe as Trump’s unilateral trade actions and to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over trade policy.
Earlier in October, Ross, Veasey, and Krishnamoorthi — along with Congressman Ro Khanna and 19 other House members — had urged President Trump to reverse his tariff decisions and repair strained ties with India.
The statement also recalled that Trump first imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods effective August 1, followed by another 25 per cent increase days later, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The administration claimed the move was necessary to counter Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, taking total duties on Indian products to 50 per cent.