US Supreme Court Questions Trump’s Global Tariffs
The US Supreme Court has raised doubts about the legality of Trump’s global tariffs. The justices questioned whether a decades old law allows the president to impose such sweeping trade measures.
Both conservative and liberal judges pressed Trump’s legal team on the issue. They debated if the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) truly grants authority for tariffs or if Trump crossed Congress’s limits.
However, some conservative justices defended presidential power in foreign affairs. The debate revealed a possible split in the court’s views, which has a 6-3 conservative majority.
A Battle Over Presidential Power
The court’s arguments lasted more than two hours. Lower courts had ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by using IEEPA to impose global tariffs. Several US states and business groups challenged the decision, calling it an overreach of executive power.
Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether Trump’s tariffs violated the US Constitution. He reminded the court that imposing taxes has always been Congress’s core power. “These are taxes on Americans,” Roberts noted, suggesting that the justification for such authority was weak.
He hinted the court might apply the “major questions” doctrine, which demands clear authorization from Congress for actions with huge economic or political impact.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett also questioned whether regulating imports truly means setting tariffs. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson added that Congress intended IEEPA to limit, not expand, presidential powers.
Economic and Global Stakes
The outcome could reshape trade policy and presidential authority. Trump’s administration has argued that tariffs protect the United States from “ruthless trade retaliation” and economic threats.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration remains “very optimistic.” He added that if the court rules against Trump, other legal paths exist to keep tariffs in place.
Trump used tariffs to pressure trading partners and renegotiate deals. He also invoked IEEPA to target countries like China, Canada, and Mexico, linking trade measures to drug trafficking concerns.
Therefore, this case could decide how far a president can go in using economic power for foreign policy goals.
