The US supreme court declared many of Donald Trump’s tariffs illegal on Friday, in a sharp rebuke that topples a key pillar of the president’s aggressive economic agenda. 1:28 Trump announces 10% global tariff after supreme court ruling – videoThe president promptly announced he would enact a new 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose tariffs for 150 days. Trump said that the administration would initiate investigations into unfair trading practices that could lead to permanent tariffs. The court cited the creators of the constitution, who “recognized the unique importance of this taxing power – a power which ‘very clear[ly]’ includes the power to impose tariffs”. “He cannot.”The court also pointed out that the White House conceded that the president “enjoys no inherent authority to impose tariffs during peacetime”, which is why it used the IEEPA to pass its tariffs.

Source: The Guardian February 20, 2026 22:46 UTC