The United States has raised its global import tariffs from 10 to 15 percent following a ruling that invalidated many of last year's duties. The announcement was made by President Donald Trump on his social platform Truth Social, a day after he called the court's decision "a disgrace."
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Trump initially imposed the tariffs in April last year on a wide range of countries, including members of the European Union, with rates ranging from 10 to 50 percent. The Supreme Court ruled that the authority to set such trade duties lies with Congress, not the president.
The Supreme Court's February 20 ruling, however, struck down the broad use of emergency powers to impose import duties. In a 6-3 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, Barrett, and Jackson, affirmed that Congress holds constitutional authority over taxation and trade policy. Justices Kavanaugh, Thomas, and Alito dissented. The decision leaves uncertainty over billions already collected and signals a setback for using tariffs as a key economic and foreign policy tool.
To circumvent the ruling, Trump reintroduced the tariffs under IEEPA for up to 150 days, partially replacing those invalidated by the court. The move preserves pressure on global trade partners but adds uncertainty for importers, particularly in sectors such as furniture, electronics, and consumer goods.
The move signals a continuation of aggressive trade policy, despite judicial constraints, and is likely to have significant implications for international trade relations.
Source: www.nytimes.com
