‘You have to colour within the line...comply with law’

Neal Katyal, the Indian-American lead attorney who successfully argued in the Supreme Court against US President Donald Trump’s powers to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, has termed the verdict a victory for constitutional government.

- Shashank Mattoo

In an interview with HT, Katyal said that President Trump's new 15% global tariffs, imposed under different provisions, stand on shaky legal ground and are likely to see additional legal challenges.

What are your first reactions to the Supreme Court’s verdict striking down President Trump's tariffs? Why was this an important case for you?

I think this was a victory for the rule of law and for our constitutional government. I think India and the United States both share this, which is that we are the largest democracies under constitutions. What happened in this case on Friday, is that the President said that I can disregard the Constitution. I can go beyond it. I can do what I want in the name of foreign policy, in the name of national security, in the name of the economy. And what the Supreme Court said is, no, you can't do that in a constitutional government. You have to colour within the line. You have to comply with the law. And the Supreme Court said the President hasn't complied with the law.

Many said the US Supreme Court would not want to challenge the President on what had been his signature initiative of his administration. What do you think swayed the court your way in this argument?