India, Feb. 25 -- The US President Donald Trump did many things right, and followed the letter of the law. According to the Supreme Court's order, he declared a national emergency, as was required under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which he used to impose tariffs against nations. He did define the "unusual and extraordinary" foreign threat to national security, foreign policy, and economy. This was in the form of narcotic smuggling, and looming bilateral trade deficits. He then imposed different tariffs to deal with each of them.

However, he got the spirit of the wrong. As the Court explains, the US Constitution gives the power to impose and collect taxes and duties, which tariffs are, to the legislature or Co...