India to study US Supreme Court tariff ruling before formal response, says Pralhad Joshi

New Delhi: The Indian government will analyse a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down presidential tariff powers before offering a formal diplomatic response, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said Saturday.

Speaking to reporters, Joshi emphasised that the legal and economic implications of the ruling fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"I have read in the media that the US top court has given some judgment and the Indian government will study that, and whatever the reaction needs to be given, that will be given by the Commerce Ministry and MEA, not by me," Joshi said.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to bypass Congress and implement broad import duties. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority that the power to levy taxes and duties is constitutionally reserved for the legislative branch. In response, President Donald Trump labelled the verdict "terrible" and immediately invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a new 10% global surcharge for a 150-day period.

Condemnation of Summit Protest

Joshi also took the opportunity to blast members of the Indian Youth Congress for a "shirtless" demonstration staged on Friday at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The event, held at Bharat Mandapam, featured delegates from nearly 150 nations, including 20 heads of state.

"It is the most shameful thing that the Congress party is behaving like this when 20 heads of state, 45 ministers and important functionaries from nearly 150 countries participated," Joshi said. "Instead of celebrating India's performance, they are trying to create a ruckus. They are trying to become a hurdle for the growth of India."

Political Friction Over Trade

The Youth Congress protest involved several cadres removing their shirts inside an exhibition hall to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom they accused of being "compromised" in trade negotiations with the United States.

The group alleged in a subsequent statement that the Prime Minister had "traded the identity of the country" at the high-profile technology summit. Delhi Police moved quickly to detain the protesters, and authorities are currently investigating how the group gained access to the high-security venue.

The political spat comes as India recently secured an interim trade agreement with Washington, which lowered tariffs on Indian agricultural exports from 50% to 18% in exchange for commitments to shift energy procurement away from Russia.

With inputs from ANI