A New Political Balance in Washington

Source: The Hindu 

Introduction 

In the U.S. midterm elections on 4th November 2026, the Democrats won control of Congress. According to the projections cited in the article, they could win the House popular vote by almost 13%, their most decisive midterm win since 1976. The author reads the result as a rejection of President Donald Trump's policies, which leaves him a lame-duck President for the rest of his term.

What was the 'America First' Trade Policy? 

• After winning a second term in 2024, President Trump adopted the 'America First' trade policy. It gave his administration wide powers to act against countries it considered to be engaging in unfair trade practices. 
• In July 2025, the U.S. imposed reciprocal tariffs on 157 countries. 
• India faced 50% tariffs, including a penalty for importing Russian oil, while it was negotiating a trade agreement with the U.S. 
• The U.S. Supreme Court later held the reciprocal tariffs to be illegal.

What Led to the Republican Losses? 

• Tariffs: According to the author, higher import costs pushed up inflation and slowed growth. 
• The Iran war: Days after the Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. launched a war on Iran. It disrupted oil and gas supplies and global supply chains. One estimate cited in the article puts the cost at about $2,000 per U.S. household. 
• President Trump admitted that the war contributed to the losses.

How Can the Democratic Congress Check the President? 

The Veto Hurdle: 

• The President has threatened to veto decisions taken by Congress. Overriding a veto requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses. 

Power of the Purse: 

• Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution says that no money shall be drawn from the Treasury except under appropriations made by law. 
• This lets Congress control government spending. 

Oversight: 

• The same provision requires a regular statement of all public receipts and expenditures to be published, which means Congress must perform oversight. 

Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): 

• Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to impose duties and regulate foreign commerce. 
• Through TPA laws, Congress sets the terms on which the President negotiates trade agreements and imposes tariffs. 
• The last TPA was enacted in 2015 and expired in 2021. In the author's view, enacting a new TPA should be an early priority for the Democrats.

What does the Shift Mean for India? 

• A weakened administration may make it easier for India to finalise a balanced bilateral trade agreement. 
• Two U.S. demands have been major concerns:  
  • opening India's markets to major cereals and dairy products, and 
  • threatening higher tariffs on Indian generic drug companies unless they invest in the U.S. 
• According to the author, these demands put pressure on India's food security and health security.

Conclusion 

The midterm results give the Democratic Congress constitutional tools to check unilateral executive action: control over appropriations, oversight and authority over trade. The presidential veto may limit how far this goes. For India, the shift may open a chance to resist demands that threaten its food and health security and to negotiate a fairer trade deal.