US Supreme Court Ruling Fails to Deter Trump, Who Plans to Raise Global Tariffs to 15%
US President Donald Trump has said he intends to impose a 15% global tariff, up from the 10% he had announced the previous day. The statement came after the US Supreme Court struck down many of the import taxes that had been levied over the past year.
As reported by AP News on Sunday (22/2/2026), Trump's social media announcement was the latest indication that despite judicial scrutiny of his powers, he still intends to raise tariffs in unexpected ways. Tariffs have become his favoured tool for reshaping global trade rules and applying international pressure.
The Supreme Court's ruling on Friday overturned tariffs that Trump had imposed on nearly every country using emergency powers legislation. Trump has now said he will use a different, albeit more limited, legal authority.
He signed an executive order enabling him to bypass Congress and impose a 10% tax on imports from around the world, effective Tuesday — the same day as his State of the Union address. However, the tariff is capped at 150 days unless extended through legislation.
Meanwhile, the White House did not immediately respond to enquiries about when the president would sign an updated order setting the tariff at 15%.
Trump made the announcement on social media, stating it was "based on a thorough, detailed and complete review of the senseless, poorly written and very un-American decision on tariffs issued yesterday."
The Supreme Court justices voted 6-3 to rule that Trump's unilateral imposition and modification of tariffs was unconstitutional, as the power to levy taxes rests with Congress.
In addition to the temporary 15% tariff he wishes to set, Trump also said he would pursue tariffs through another section of federal law requiring an investigation by the Department of Commerce. He indicated that his administration would issue new tariffs in the coming months.
"Over the next several months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue new, legally sound tariffs, which will continue our very successful process of Making America Great Again," he said via his social media account.
Tariffs have been central to Trump's economic policy, which he claims addresses a range of issues — from correcting trade imbalances and reviving US manufacturing to compelling other nations to act, whether by stepping up efforts to combat drug trafficking or ceasing hostilities against one another.
He has also regularly claimed, despite evidence to the contrary, that foreign governments would pay the tariffs rather than American consumers and businesses.
As reported by AP News on Sunday (22/2/2026), Trump's social media announcement was the latest indication that despite judicial scrutiny of his powers, he still intends to raise tariffs in unexpected ways. Tariffs have become his favoured tool for reshaping global trade rules and applying international pressure.
The Supreme Court's ruling on Friday overturned tariffs that Trump had imposed on nearly every country using emergency powers legislation. Trump has now said he will use a different, albeit more limited, legal authority.
He signed an executive order enabling him to bypass Congress and impose a 10% tax on imports from around the world, effective Tuesday — the same day as his State of the Union address. However, the tariff is capped at 150 days unless extended through legislation.
Meanwhile, the White House did not immediately respond to enquiries about when the president would sign an updated order setting the tariff at 15%.
Trump made the announcement on social media, stating it was "based on a thorough, detailed and complete review of the senseless, poorly written and very un-American decision on tariffs issued yesterday."
The Supreme Court justices voted 6-3 to rule that Trump's unilateral imposition and modification of tariffs was unconstitutional, as the power to levy taxes rests with Congress.
In addition to the temporary 15% tariff he wishes to set, Trump also said he would pursue tariffs through another section of federal law requiring an investigation by the Department of Commerce. He indicated that his administration would issue new tariffs in the coming months.
"Over the next several months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue new, legally sound tariffs, which will continue our very successful process of Making America Great Again," he said via his social media account.
Tariffs have been central to Trump's economic policy, which he claims addresses a range of issues — from correcting trade imbalances and reviving US manufacturing to compelling other nations to act, whether by stepping up efforts to combat drug trafficking or ceasing hostilities against one another.
He has also regularly claimed, despite evidence to the contrary, that foreign governments would pay the tariffs rather than American consumers and businesses.