The court, however, rejected Trump's India-Pakistan ceasefire logic to justify tariffs
NEW YORK — The Trump administration reportedly told a New York court that India and Pakistan reached a “tenuous ceasefire” only after US President Donald Trump “interceded and offered both nations trading access with the US to avert a full-scale war” while according to news agency PTI, sources in the Indian government maintained that the two countries reached an understanding without any third-party involvement.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made the remarks in a submission to the Court of International Trade last week, arguing that Trump used his emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs aimed at protecting US national security and economy. Lutnick said that the maintenance of tariffs is crucial to the president’s ability to conduct real-world diplomacy.
“For example, India and Pakistan – two nuclear powers engaged in combat operations just 13 days ago – reached a tenuous ceasefire on May 10, 2025. This ceasefire was only achieved after President Trump interceded and offered both nations trading access with the United States to avert a full-scale war,” Lutnick claimed in the submission, reports PTI.
“An adverse ruling that constrains presidential power in this case could lead India and Pakistan to question the validity of President Trump’s offer, threatening the security of an entire region, and the lives of millions,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that he “helped settle” the tensions between India and Pakistan and that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America would do a “lot of trade” with them if they stopped the conflict.
About two weeks after the horrific April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Indian government sources in New Delhi have maintained that no third party was involved.
Meanwhile, a federal trade court has halted President Donald Trump’s attempt to impose newly proposed tariffs. Refuting the argument that the neqly proposed tariffs were essential in supporting the 10 May ceasefire between India and Pakistan the court rued that he had exceeded the legal authority granted to him, according to media reports.
The US administration had argued before the court that the ceasefire “was achieved only after both countries were offered trading access with the US to avert a full-scale war.” However, the court ruled against the government’s position. — AGencies
