President Donald Trump announced a new 15 percent global tariff on all imports Friday, hours after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier, sweeping tariff regimen. The move, described by the President as a response to a “deeply disappointing” ruling, immediately injected further uncertainty into global trade flows.
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision, delivered Friday, found that Trump had overstepped his authority in imposing the initial tariffs using a 1970s emergency statute. The court’s action represents a significant rebuke of a key element of Trump’s economic policy. Trump responded to the ruling by stating he would sign an executive order imposing the 10 percent tariff under Section 122 of federal law, but later increased the rate to 15 percent.
The initial tariffs, implemented in 2024, had already begun to reshape trade patterns. According to data cited by NPR, imports from China fell from 12 percent of total U.S. Imports in 2024 to approximately 8 percent by September of last year, as importers sought to avoid the duties by shifting production to countries with lower tariff rates.
While the Trump administration claimed the tariffs were generating substantial revenue – approximately $30 billion per month as of February 2026, or four times the amount collected before the tariffs were implemented – economists have argued that the costs are largely being borne by U.S. Businesses and consumers. A working paper from Harvard University professor Gita Gopinath and University of Chicago economist Brent Neiman estimates that nearly all the cost of the tariffs is being absorbed by U.S. Importers, rather than foreign suppliers.
The new 15 percent tariff, authorized under Section 122, is expected to further complicate international trade. The administration has not yet specified which imports, if any, will be exempt, though previous exemptions for goods like coffee and bananas suggest some flexibility may be considered. The President also indicated he is exploring additional tariff measures through other legal avenues.
The Supreme Court’s decision and the subsequent imposition of new tariffs have prompted concern among trading partners. No immediate official responses from major economies were available at the time of publication. The White House has scheduled a press briefing for Saturday morning to further elaborate on the new tariff policy and address potential international repercussions.
