President Donald Trump unveiled his plan to boost import duties on almost all United States products from 10% to the maximum allowable under federal law, a move aimed at addressing longstanding grievances with trading partners. The new tariffs come after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s previous tariff program, which imposed varied higher rates using emergency economic powers.
Trump’s announcement follows Friday’s ruling by the high court, which invalidated the 10% global tariff as exceeding his legal authority under a trade law. In response to this setback, Trump outlined three avenues for implementing new levies: one through Section 122 of the U.S. Trade Act, another based on national security concerns, and yet another targeting unfair trade practices.
In an immediate social media post on Saturday, Trump asserted that his administration would use this period to propose additional tariffs under legal statutes, rather than extending the previous program’s punitive measures. The White House confirmed that exceptions remain for sectors undergoing separate investigations into pharmaceuticals and those entering the U.S. via agreements with Mexico and Canada.
This decision marks a significant reversal for Trump, who had previously imposed various tariff rates aimed at both allies and adversaries alike over the past year. On Friday, the administration also announced that trading partners who have reached individual tariff deals with his administration would be subject to these new global tariffs as well.
Critically, while the Supreme Court’s ruling does not affect sector-specific duties on steel, aluminum, and other goods, Trump maintains several ongoing investigations that could lead to further sectoral tariffs. Despite this legal setback, the move underscores the president’s continued reliance on tariffs for both diplomatic leverage and economic negotiations.
The three liberal justices who joined the conservative majority in their decision have expressed reservations about the broad scope of these measures. In response, Trump criticized the court’s integrity, accusing them of succumbing to foreign influence. The administration insists that this latest tactic is crucial in reining in what they view as decades-long unfair trade practices and illicit activities by trading partners.
This development has left US trading partners cautiously optimistic about its potential impact on their economies, viewing it as a step towards clarifying the president’s regulatory authority over trade while potentially mitigating some of Trump’s unilateral actions.