Trump Escalates Global Tariffs to 15% After Supreme Court Rebuke
President Donald Trump has raised the baseline tariff on all imports into the United States to 15%, escalating his trade policy just one day after the Supreme Court issued a significant ruling against his administration’s authority to impose such duties.
The high court’s 6-3 decision on Friday found that Trump exceeded his powers under a 1977 economic emergency statute when he implemented his broad global tariff strategy. In response, the president initially announced a 10% global levy on Saturday, citing a different legal authority. Hours later, he increased that rate to 15%, stating on his Truth Social platform that this represented the “fully allowed” level following the court’s “anti-American decision.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling marks the most substantial legal defeat for Trump since his return to office. While the decision nullified his use of the 1977 law for universal tariffs, it left intact separate, sector-specific duties on goods like steel and aluminum. The new 15% global tariff is authorized under a separate provision but is temporary, permitted for only 150 days. Certain sectors, including pharmaceuticals under investigation and goods covered by the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, retain exemptions.
The ruling and the president’s defiant response have drawn sharp reactions. Trump publicly criticized the six justices in the majority, including two of his own appointees, suggesting they were influenced by “foreign interests.” He praised the three conservative justices who dissented. Domestically, political opponents, such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, urged the president to accept the court’s ruling and end what they call chaotic policy.
Internationally, the move has prompted concern. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for equal treatment of all nations, rejecting what he termed a “new Cold War.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced plans to coordinate a unified European response before his March visit to Washington. Several countries are reviewing both the court’s decision and the new tariff announcement.
The latest development prolongs uncertainty in global trade. Business groups had welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision for providing legal clarity, though the administration’s immediate tariff hike undermines that stability. The White House indicated that any nation with a separate bilateral deal with the U.S. would still face the 15% global rate. Legal questions regarding potential refunds for already-paid tariffs are expected to result in prolonged litigation, as noted by Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the case.
This sequence underscores the ongoing conflict between the executive branch and the judiciary over trade authority, with significant implications for international commerce and domestic economic policy as the administration pursues its aggressive tariff agenda amid legal constraints.
