Trump asserts 'absolute right' to tariffs despite Supreme Court ruling

Former President Donald Trump declared Sunday that he possesses the "absolute right" to implement new tariffs on foreign goods, pushing back against a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down many of the import duties enacted during his tenure. Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump characterized the judicial ruling as a blow to American economic interests, suggesting it effectively rewards nations that have long exploited the United States.

Court ruling and response

In February, the nation's highest court determined that a law designed for national emergency situations did not provide legal justification for numerous tariffs the Trump administration had imposed on countries around the globe. Trump responded sharply to the decision, posting that the court had "unnecessarily ransacked" the country and "decided to, potentially, give away trillions of dollars to countries and companies that have been taking advantage of the United States for decades."

Alternative legal pathway

Following the ruling, the Trump administration quickly pivoted to a different statutory authority, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to introduce 10% tariffs on goods from much of the world. Unlike the previous measures, these duties carry an expiration date of 150 days, meaning they would lapse in July. While Trump has publicly pledged to increase this temporary tariff to 15%, that adjustment has not yet been implemented. Last week, US officials launched multiple trade investigations, signaling preparations for a new round of permanent tariffs that could replace those invalidated by the court.

Assertion questioned

"Our Supreme Court has made these countries very happy but, as the court pointed out, I have the absolute right to charge tariffs in another form, and have already started to do so," Trump wrote on his platform. However, legal observers note that the Supreme Court's February ruling did not affirm any such absolute presidential authority over tariffs, leaving the administration's latest trade actions potentially vulnerable to further judicial review as the July deadline approaches.