The new baseline duty will be imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which grants the president unilateral ability to impose tariffs. The court rejected an argument by the Trump administration that it had identified a war-like emergency to justify use of the IEEPA. Trump responded with ‌fury to the ruling, denouncing individual justices as he vowed to continue a global trade war that has kept the world on edge for a year. Trump directed the Office of the US Trade Representative to begin probes under its Section 301 authority, according to the fact sheet. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the court ruling could have mixed results.

Source: Bangkok Post February 21, 2026 08:20 UTC