In a bold pivot post-Supreme Court verdict, the Trump administration is plotting Section 232 tariffs on an array of strategic imports, from massive EV batteries to telecom towers and industrial pipes. This national security gambit threatens to disrupt trade flows for suppliers worldwide, with India facing potential export curbs on its booming sectors.
The Wall Street Journal reports these duties, separate from Trump’s proposed global 15% levy, target vulnerabilities in the US power grid, manufacturing base, and communications networks. Section 232 empowers the president to act swiftly against perceived threats, bypassing standard trade rules.
India’s metal foundries, chemical giants, and auto parts makers stand vulnerable. Shipments of cast iron, plastics, and specialized chemicals—integral to global chains—could see duties spike, echoing the steel and aluminum tariffs that prompted India’s retaliation in 2018.
White House officials, including Kush Desai, vow unwavering commitment to economic fortification. ‘President Trump’s focus on national security drives every policy,’ Desai stated, hinting at aggressive use of trade laws.
While investigations under Section 232 demand rigorous review, implementation can be rapid and reversible at executive whim. The Court’s recent IEEPA smackdown didn’t touch this tool, leaving it primed for deployment.
Market watchers brace for uncertainty. India’s Commerce Ministry has yet to comment, but past disputes signal readiness for countermeasures. As Trump eyes his second term, these tariffs underscore a protectionist blueprint reshaping global commerce, with emerging economies like India navigating the fallout.