Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Tariffs in trouble: On the U.S. Supreme Court and Donald Trump

Tariffs in trouble: On the U.S. Supreme Court and Donald Trump

The U.S. Supreme Court has done well to circumscribe (सीमित करना, परिधि निर्धारित करना) Donald Trump’s presidential powers

In a major blow to a central pillar of U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the country’s Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has ruled by a 6-3 margin that his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs (सीमा शुल्क, आयात-निर्यात कर) on numerous (अनेक, बहुत अधिक संख्या में) countries is not in accordance with law and must be struck down. With Chief Justice John Roberts and two other conservative (रूढ़िवादी) justices appointed by Mr. Trump siding with the three liberal justices on the subject, the Court ruled that Mr. Trump’s assertion (दावा, दृढ़ कथन) of “extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope”, is contravened by the absence of “clear congressional (Relating to a national legislative body, especially that of the US) authorization” to exercise it. It also observed that the IEEPA contained no reference to tariffs or duties and that the executive had not identified any statute that used the word “regulate” to authorise taxation. Arguing that until now no President has read IEEPA to confer (प्रदान करना, विचार-विमर्श करना) such power, the SCOTUS concluded that all the evidence available and its reading of the statutes implied that the Court believed that “IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.” Unsurprisingly, Mr. Trump reacted angrily on social media, posting that he would be raising his global tariff rate to 15%, after initially suggesting that it would be imposed at 10%, under the authority conferred to the White House for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Tariffs imposed under laws other than the IEEPA, including those on aluminium and steel under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, are unaffected by this ruling although Mr. Trump would face challenges in bringing fresh tariff rounds under this umbrella.

While multiple countries were slapped with tariffs earlier, including India at a whopping overall rate of 50% owing to Washington’s objections to New Delhi purchasing oil from Russia, the impact of the SCOTUS ruling will vary based on the specifics of trade agreements struck, if any. Indian negotiators seeking to conclude the terms of a free trade agreement would not be blamed for feeling like they were suspended in limbo after the ruling has changed the terms of debate on which sectors to open up to concessionary (रियायती) rates in bilateral trade, especially after the American side’s punitive potential has now been defanged (To make something harmless or less powerful) to an extent. At a broader level, the ruling is to be welcomed by anyone valuing robust (मजबूत, सुदृढ़) democratic checks and balances. The two administrations of Mr. Trump have stretched, and in some cases exceeded, the scope of permissible policy actions under domestic and international law. Until this ruling by the court, there has been a deafening (बहरा कर देना) silence on containing such actions by institutions rooted in constitutional authority that are capable of imposing a countervailing (प्रतिरोधी, प्रतिकारी) force.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Tariff (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – सीमा शुल्क, आयात-निर्यात कर
English Meaning – A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.

2.Circumscribe (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – सीमित करना, परिधि निर्धारित करना
English Meaning – To restrict something within limits; to draw a line around.

3.Numerous (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – अनेक, बहुत अधिक संख्या में
English Meaning – Great in number; many.

4.Assertion (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – दावा, दृढ़ कथन
English Meaning – A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.

5.Confer (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – प्रदान करना, विचार-विमर्श करना
English Meaning – To grant a title, degree, benefit, or right; to have a discussion.

6.Robust (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – मजबूत, सुदृढ़
English Meaning – Strong and healthy; vigorous; (of a system) able to withstand or overcome adverse conditions.

7.Concessionary (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – रियायती
English Meaning – Given as a concession, such as a lower price or a special right.

8.Deafen (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – बहरा कर देना
English Meaning – To cause someone to lose the power of hearing temporarily or permanently; to overwhelm with extremely loud noise.

9.Countervailing (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – प्रतिरोधी, प्रतिकारी
English Meaning – Acting against something in order to reduce its force or neutralise it.

10.Conservative (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – रूढ़िवादी
English Meaning – Holding to traditional values and cautious about change or innovation.

11.Defang (Verb)

English Meaning – To make something harmless or less powerful.

12.Congressional (Adjective)

English Meaning – Relating to a national legislative body, especially that of the US.