So, the U.S. Supreme Court just threw a wrench into the global trade machinery. It ruled that former President Donald Trump's tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are null and void. And now, everyone from Brussels to Beijing is trying to figure out what happens next.
The European Commission, which handles trade for the EU's 27 member states, wasted no time. It issued a statement calling on the U.S. to respect its trade agreements and provide, in its words, "full clarity." The Commission is worried that the current situation isn't exactly helping to achieve the "fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial" trade relationship that the U.S. and EU agreed to back in August.
In simpler terms, the EU is saying: "A deal is a deal." The bloc wants its products to keep getting the best possible treatment, with no surprise tariff hikes beyond what was already agreed upon.
That August deal set a 15% import tariff on about 70% of EU goods coming into the U.S. But now, the ratification process for that very deal is hitting the brakes. Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament's international trade committee, says he'll urge negotiators to pause the process. His review of the U.S. approach? "Pure chaos." EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has already been on the phone with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to talk it over.
China and India Weigh Their Moves
It's not just Europe reacting. Over in China, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Monday that it's doing a "comprehensive assessment" of the ruling's content and impact. Through state media, China reiterated its usual stance: cooperation is good for everyone, confrontation hurts everyone. The message to Washington was clear: remove those unilateral tariffs on your trading partners.
Meanwhile, India has decided to press pause on its own trade diplomacy. According to reports, a planned visit to Washington, D.C., led by India's chief negotiator Darpan Jain, has been postponed. The delegation was supposed to spend three days this week working on an interim trade deal with the U.S. That trip is now being rescheduled for a later date.












