US Democrats Move To Scrap Steep Import Duties On Indian Goods

A group of senior Democratic lawmakers in the United States has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives seeking to revoke import duties of up to 50 per cent on goods from India, arguing that the measures are unlawful and damaging to both economies.

Led by Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, alongside Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Congressman Marc Veasey, the proposal aims to overturn a national emergency declaration used by President Donald Trump to justify the tariffs.

The lawmakers contend that the move has disrupted supply chains, increased costs for consumers and weakened a strategically important partnership.

The resolution targets tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which enabled the administration to raise duties sharply on Indian-origin products. In addition to earlier reciprocal tariffs, an extra 25 per cent in so-called secondary duties took effect on August 27, pushing levies on some items to as high as 50 per cent.

The initiative follows a recent bipartisan vote in the US Senate to end similar tariffs on Brazil, signalling growing congressional resistance to the use of emergency powers in trade policy.

Krishnamoorthi said the current approach towards India undermines American interests rather than protecting them.

He argued that ending the tariffs would help restore stability, lower costs, and allow Washington to work more constructively with New Delhi on shared economic and security priorities.

State-level impact and consumer concerns

Ross highlighted the local consequences of the tariffs, particularly for states such as North Carolina, which maintains strong trade and investment links with India.

She noted that Indian firms have invested more than a billion dollars in the state, generating thousands of jobs in sectors such as life sciences and technology. At the same time, North Carolina exporters ship hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of goods to India each year.

Veasey focused on the burden placed on consumers, saying the duties effectively act as a tax on households already grappling with rising living costs.

Supporters of the resolution argue that broad tariffs imposed through emergency declarations bypass Congress and inject uncertainty into global trade.

They say removing the India-specific duties would be a step towards restoring predictability in US trade relations and recalibrating ties with a key partner.

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