Trump imposes new 10% global tariff after Supreme Court strikes down earlier duties

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Friday imposed a new 10% global tariff to replace sweeping duties struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, calling the ruling “terrible” and criticizing the justices who rejected his trade policy.

The move came shortly after the court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled that Trump had overstepped his powers in imposing global tariffs announced last year.

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The decision marked a major victory for businesses and US states that had challenged the duties, potentially opening the door to billions of dollars in tariff refunds and creating fresh uncertainty in global trade.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said refunds would not come without a legal fight and predicted the issue would remain tied up in court for years.

He added that he would rely on other laws to advance his tariff agenda, which he said encourages investment and manufacturing in the United States.

“We have alternatives — great alternatives and we’ll be a lot stronger for it,” Trump said.

The court case centered on import taxes imposed on goods from nearly every country.

The tariffs initially targeted Mexico, Canada and China before expanding to dozens of trade partners last April.

The White House had cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, which allows the president to regulate trade in response to an emergency.

Opponents argued that the law does not explicitly authorize tariffs and that Congress did not intend to delegate its taxing authority.

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that when Congress has delegated tariff powers, it has done so explicitly and subject to strict limits.

The ruling was joined by the court’s three liberal justices and two justices nominated by Trump, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch. Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito dissented.

Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of the Republican appointees who voted against his trade policy.

Following the ruling, Trump signed a proclamation imposing the new 10% tariff under Section 122, a law allowing tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days, after which Congress must act. The tariff will take effect on Feb. 24.

The order includes exemptions for certain minerals, natural resources and fertilizers; some agricultural products including oranges and beef; pharmaceuticals; some electronics; and certain vehicles. Canada and Mexico retain exemptions under the USMCA trade agreement.

A White House official said countries that struck trade deals with the United States, including the United Kingdom, India and the European Union, will now face the global 10% tariff under Section 122.

Markets reacted positively, with the S&P 500 rising about 0.7% at closing. Business owners involved in the legal challenge described the ruling as a relief, though some noted supply chains may take months to normalize.

Democratic governors including California’s Gavin Newsom and Illinois’ JB Pritzker called for refunds of what they described as improperly collected duties.