Under a Legal Shadow, Trump Pushes for His Most Ambitious Tariffs Yet

Operating under the legal shadow of a looming Supreme Court decision, President Donald Trump is pushing for his most ambitious tariff plan yet. He has asked the European Union to join the US in a plan to levy duties of up to 100% on India and China, a move aimed at punishing Russia’s key economic partners and forcing an end to the Ukraine war.
The legal uncertainty is palpable. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case in November that could invalidate the president’s entire tariff-based foreign policy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has publicly acknowledged that a loss would force the government to refund tens of billions of dollars, a “terrible” outcome.
Despite this precarious situation, the administration is doubling down, proposing a dramatic escalation of its tariff strategy. The push is motivated by a stalemate in Ukraine peace talks and by Russia’s ongoing aggression. The US has made it clear, however, that it will not act without the EU’s full support.
The strategy aims to disrupt the crucial economic support that India and China provide to Russia. The US has already imposed a 50% tariff on India for its Russian oil purchases, but this new proposal seeks to create a powerful, unified Western front to apply overwhelming pressure.