President Donald Trump raised the global duty on imports into the United States to 15 percent, escalating his trade policy a day after the Supreme Court curtailed his authority to impose tariffs. The move, announced Saturday on Trump’s Truth Social platform, follows an initial announcement Friday of a 10 percent tariff after the court’s ruling.
Trump stated the increase to 15 percent was enacted after a review of the court’s “extraordinarily anti-American decision.” He claimed the administration was raising the import levies “to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.”
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, rejected the president’s reliance on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to justify imposing tariffs. The ruling represents a significant check on presidential power and a major setback for Trump’s economic agenda. Trump responded to the ruling with a personal attack on the conservative justices who joined the majority, accusing them of “disloyalty” and labeling them “fools and lap dogs.”
The initial 10 percent tariff, announced Friday, was justified under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to address “large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits” or other international payment problems. The new duty is temporary, authorized for 150 days. A White House fact sheet indicated exemptions will remain for the pharmaceutical sector and goods covered by the US-Mexico-Canada agreement.
The White House also stated Friday that countries with existing tariff deals negotiated with the Trump administration would also be subject to the new global tariff.
Although the court’s decision impacts the legal basis for tariffs imposed under the 1977 act, it does not affect sector-specific duties already in place on steel, aluminum, and other goods. Further sectoral tariffs could still be implemented pending ongoing government investigations, according to the ruling.
Trump praised the three conservative justices – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh – who voted to uphold his tariff authority, thanking them for their “strength and wisdom, and love of our country.” He alleged the majority of six justices were “swayed by foreign interests.”
Wall Street reacted modestly to the Supreme Court’s decision, with shares rising Friday. Business groups generally welcomed the ruling, with the National Retail Federation stating it “provides much-needed certainty” for companies.
The Trump administration had previously indicated that companies would receive refunds if the tariffs were deemed unlawful, but the Supreme Court’s ruling did not address the issue of refunds. Justice Kavanaugh noted the refund process could be complex and potentially lead to litigation, with Trump anticipating “years of litigation” over the matter.
The 15 percent tariff will take effect on February 24 at 12:01 ET.
