Trump hikes global tariffs to 15%, day after Supreme Court ruling

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has unveiled plans to raise a proposed global tariff rate to 15 percent, intensifying his trade strategy only a day after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated many of the sweeping import duties he enacted over the past year. The announcement marks a sharp escalation from the 10 percent rate he had outlined earlier and signals that the administration intends to continue pressing its trade agenda despite the judicial setback.

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court determined that Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by imposing wide-ranging tariffs under an emergency powers statute. The justices concluded that the power to levy taxes, including tariffs, lies with Congress, not the executive branch. The decision effectively dismantled a framework that had placed import taxes on goods from nearly every country.

Rather than scaling back his approach, Trump indicated he would shift tactics. He said his administration would rely on alternative legal authorities to reimpose tariffs in a manner he described as fully compliant with the constitution. In a series of social media posts, the president sharply criticised the court’s reasoning, characterising the decision as misguided and harmful to American interests.

Previously, Trump signed an executive order authorising a 10 percent tariff on global imports, scheduled to take effect Tuesday, the same day as his State of the Union address. However, that authority allows the tariffs to remain in place for only 150 days unless Congress votes to extend them. While the White House has yet to provide details on the mechanics of raising the rate to 15 percent, Trump has made clear that a higher levy is his objective.

Beyond the temporary universal tariff, the administration is also exploring other provisions of federal trade law. Some of those statutes require formal investigations by the Commerce Department before tariffs can be imposed, typically targeting specific industries or countries. Officials have suggested that these mechanisms could serve as an additional route to expand import duties within the boundaries set by the court.

The Supreme Court’s ruling triggered an unusually personal response from the president. Trump openly criticised members of the majority, including Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both of whom he appointed during his first term. He also faulted Chief Justice John Roberts, who authored the majority opinion. Trump described the outcome as embarrassing and accused the court of undermining his efforts to strengthen the nation’s economy.

READ ALSO: U.S. Supreme Court voids Trump’s global tariffs, citing limits of emergency powers

At the same time, he commended the three dissenting justices – Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito – for siding with him. Trump singled out Kavanaugh for writing a lengthy dissent and praised the minority bloc for supporting what he views as a necessary use of executive power in trade policy.

Tariffs have been a cornerstone of Trump’s economic platform. He has consistently argued that import taxes can reduce trade imbalances, protect domestic industries and compel foreign governments to alter policies ranging from market access barriers to broader geopolitical conduct. According to the president, such measures are essential to reviving American manufacturing and asserting economic leverage abroad.

Critics, however, maintain that tariffs often increase costs for U.S. businesses and consumers, as importers typically pass along higher expenses. Federal data show that more than $133 billion in tariff revenue had been collected under the emergency powers authority by December. Trump has proposed using those funds to reduce the national debt or provide financial dividends to taxpayers, though the Supreme Court’s decision did not clarify what will happen to the revenue already gathered.

Democratic lawmakers quickly condemned the president’s renewed tariff push. Members of the House Ways and Means Committee accused him of raising costs for American households and sidestepping the court’s ruling. California Governor Gavin Newsom echoed that criticism, arguing that the policy shift disregards the financial impact on families and businesses.

Despite the legal constraints and political opposition, Trump’s latest move underscores his continued reliance on tariffs as a defining element of his economic strategy.