Former President Donald Trump declared on Friday that he will impose an extra 10% tariff on top of the existing 10% duty on all imported goods, a move that comes just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his broader emergency‑tariff program. Trump said the new levy will take effect immediately and will remain in place “until the trade deficit is resolved,” warning that he may raise it further if other nations retaliate. The announcement defies the Court’s decision, which found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to levy tariffs unilaterally.
In a 6‑3 opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that IEEPA “does not authorize the President to impose sweeping import duties,” emphasizing that the Constitution vests taxing power in Congress, not the executive branch. The majority held that any such authority must be expressly granted by statute, and because IEEPA lacks a clear tariff provision, the tariffs were illegal. Justices Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh dissented, arguing that the law’s “regulate” language could be read to include tariffs.
The ruling upholds earlier lower‑court decisions that had already blocked the tariffs, meaning the government may have to refund billions of dollars already collected. While sector‑specific duties on steel, aluminum and other national‑security‑related products remain unaffected, the decision curtails the president’s ability to use emergency powers for broad trade measures and could reshape future trade policy. Analysts say the decision will force the administration to seek congressional approval for any new tariffs and may trigger a wave of refund claims from importers.
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