A number of Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have mounted a formal challenge tariffs imposed on Indian imports by President Donald Trump. They contend the measures are illegal and damaging to economic and strategic relations between the United States and India. On Friday, December 13, 2025, Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Deborah Ross of North Carolina, and Marc Veasey of Texas introduced a joint resolution in the House to terminate the national emergency that allowed former President Donald Trump to levy tariffs of up to 50 per cent on a wide array of Indian goods.

The tariffs had been implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which is a tool intended for responding to national emergencies. The lawmakers argue that using IEEPA as a means to raise import duties is an abuse of executive power and cuts out Congress from its constitutional role in setting trade policy. In Trump's order, an initial 25 per cent tariff on Indian products was followed by a second 25 per cent duty that took effect on August 27, 2025, thus bringing the total tariff on many items to a much higher level.

The representatives' resolution calls to end the national emergency declaration and rescind the additional 25 per cent duties layered atop existing reciprocal tariffs. They argue that these tariffs wreak havoc on supply chains, hurt U.S. workers, increase costs for American consumers, and damage one of the United States' most critical strategic partnerships.

To this end, Congressman Krishnamoorthi issued a formal statement about the tariff strategy, stating, "Reckless and counterproductive, this tariff strategy not only undermines our bilateral relationship with India but also disrupts supply chains, hurting American workers while raising costs for consumers." He said scrapping these tariffs would enable the US to work with India toward mutual economic and security interests.

Congresswoman Ross made specific references to possible damage to jobs and investment in her home state of North Carolina, which has especially strong economic relations with India. She said that Indian companies have invested over a billion dollars and created thousands of jobs in such fields as life sciences and technology in the state. She also mentioned that North Carolina manufacturers export hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and advanced machinery to India every year.

Ross warned that tariffs threaten these business links, undermining innovation and competitiveness. "When Trump destabilises this relationship with illegal tariffs, he puts North Carolina jobs, innovation, and our long-term competitiveness at risk," she said.

Representative Veasey framed the tariffs as a cost-of-living issue for ordinary Americans, contending that they act much like a tax on households already struggling with affordability. He emphasised India's importance as a cultural, economic, and strategic partner and criticised the duty increases as punitive and unjustified. In October, the three congress lawmakers, along with Congressman Ro Khanna and 19 other members of Congress, urged Trump to repair strained ties with India and reverse what they described as harmful tariff policies.

The resolution reflects broader frustration among congressional Democrats and some Republicans with the Trump administration’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs without clear congressional approval. The effort to overturn the India tariffs follows similar action in the Senate, where lawmakers had already moved to end emergency-based tariffs on Brazil, signalling concerns about executive overreach and harm to U.S. economic interests. Critics of the Trump tariff strategy say the steep duties have already had an effect on trade flows with India, one of Washington's fastest-growing economic partners.

The tariffs have had tangible effects on Indian exporters, particularly in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, seafood, and leather. Analysts note that a significant portion of India’s approximately $86.5 billion in annual exports to the U.S. are subject to these elevated duties. Indian industry associations have warned that the tariffs threaten jobs, competitiveness, and the predictability of trade flows, not just in India but globally.

Proponents of the congressional resolution argue that revoking the duties would restore a more stable trade environment and strengthen long-term cooperation between the United States and India. They contend that reversing the tariffs would reassert Congress’s authority over trade matters, facilitate renewed dialogue on a mutually beneficial bilateral trade framework, and create opportunities for job growth and economic development on both sides. Lawmakers emphasise that maintaining a predictable and fair trading relationship is essential to preserving innovation, competitiveness, and strategic alignment between the two democratic nations.

At present, the Trump administration has not issued a formal response to the resolution, and the outcome of the congressional effort remains uncertain. However, the debate highlights ongoing tensions over the use of emergency powers, the role of executive authority in trade policy, and the importance of the U.S.-India economic and strategic partnership.