Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariff emergency powers, upending key trade tool (AgWeb): In a landmark ruling released Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that President Donald Trump overstepped his legal authority by imposing broad tariffs under national emergency laws, concluding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the president the power to unilaterally set sweeping import duties. The 6–3 decision affirmed lower court rulings that had already invalidated the tariffs, affirming the constitutional balance of power by underscoring that tariff authority resides with Congress rather than the executive branch. The ruling has significant implications for U.S. trade policy and could affect revenue, importers, and agricultural markets as legal challenges and uncertainty around tariff enforcement continue.
The decision sent ripples through agricultural and commodity markets, with some grain prices reacting to concerns about leverage in upcoming trade negotiations. It preserves other tariffs enacted under separate statutory authorities but removes the legal basis for broad “emergency” tariff measures. In response, Trump quickly announced plans to impose a new global tariff under a different trade statute, highlighting ongoing political and legal maneuvering over how the U.S. approaches trade policy going forward.
Despite Supreme Court ruling, Trump increases global tariff rate from 10% to 15% (Reuters): After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing a broad set of tariffs under emergency powers, Trump quickly announced he would increase a newly created global tariff from 10% to 15%—the highest rate allowed under a seldom-used provision of the Trade Act of 1974. The court decision invalidated most of his previous tariff regime, prompting Trump to pivot to this alternative legal authority that permits tariffs for up to 150 days before needing congressional approval. Trump said he would use the interim period to pursue other tariff options deemed legally permissible and defended the move as part of his ongoing effort to counter unfair trade practices.
The shift comes amid skepticism in Washington about whether Congress will extend the tariffs, given concerns over their impact on consumer prices. Trump’s statement followed the Supreme Court’s majority opinion that his emergency powers did not grant him unilateral tariff authority. The new 15% tariff includes exemptions for certain critical imports, and Trump reaffirmed his intention to maintain pressure in global trade, even as legal questions and political resistance persist.