Neal Katyal: The Indian-American Lawyer Challenging Trump’s Tariff Powers

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Indian-American attorney Neal Katyal is set to appear before the US Supreme Court on Wednesday in a landmark case challenging President Donald Trump’s authority to impose tariffs under emergency powers.

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The case has been described by Trump as “one of the most important in the history of the country.

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Katyal, representing the plaintiffs, will argue that the power of taxation and tariffs is exclusively vested in Congress.

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The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had earlier ruled 7-4 that the President exceeded his authority under IEEPA — a decision Katyal now seeks to uphold.

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The Supreme Court has allotted 80 minutes for oral arguments, longer than the usual 60, due to the constitutional significance of the case.

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President Trump has publicly emphasized the importance of the case, writing on Truth Social: “If we win, we will be the richest, most secure country in the world. If we lose, our country could be reduced to almost Third World status.”

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A prominent figure in American legal circles, Neal Katyal has argued over 50 cases before the US Supreme Court. He rose to national prominence as co-counsel for Vice President Al Gore during the Bush v. Gore case in 2000.

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Katyal has often been described as a “Trump tormentor”, having challenged several of Trump’s policies — including the travel ban on Muslim-majority nations and efforts to fast-track deportations.

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