US Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Global Tariffs

Washington: In a major setback to President Donald Trump’s economic agenda, the Supreme Court of the United States on Friday invalidated most of his sweeping global tariffs. The Court ruled that under a 1977 emergency law, the president did not have the authority to impose broad import levies on America’s trading partners worldwide, including India.

The decision marks a rare instance of the conservative-leaning Court placing limits on Trump’s use of executive power. According to reports, the 6–3 ruling struck down the tariffs, calling it a major repudiation of a central component of Trump’s economic program.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, stated: “The President claims the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. Given the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that claimed authority, he must obtain clear authorization from Congress to exercise it.”

Roberts further said that the 1977 law relied upon by Trump fell short of providing the necessary congressional approval.

According to media reports, the justices determined that the president lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose extensive import levies on goods from nearly all US trading partners. The Court concluded that Trump’s use of emergency powers to reshape global trade was unlawful.

Rejecting the broad interpretation of IEEPA—a 1970s-era statute allowing the president to “regulate” imports in response to “unusual and extraordinary” threats during a national emergency—Roberts clarified the Court’s constitutional role. “We do not claim any special expertise in economics or foreign affairs,” he wrote. “We claim only the limited role assigned to us by Article III of the Constitution. In fulfilling that role, we conclude that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.”

Trump had justified tariffs on countries such as Canada, China, and Mexico by declaring emergencies related to fentanyl and trade deficits. He also imposed reciprocal tariffs on dozens of trading partners worldwide, including an 18 percent tariff on India.

The ruling noted that Trump was the first president in the nearly 50-year history of IEEPA to attempt to use it specifically for imposing tariffs. However, sector-specific tariffs on products such as steel, aluminum, and copper—imposed under separate legal authorities—were not affected and will remain in place.

The decision is expected to trigger efforts by companies to recover billions of dollars already paid in tariffs. Prior to the ruling, major firms including Costco, parts of the Toyota Group, and Revlon, along with hundreds of other businesses, had filed lawsuits to protect their claims.

Although the ruling represents a significant legal defeat, options remain for the administration. Congress holds the constitutional authority to impose tariffs, and the president may seek to justify duties under other existing trade laws.

Enacted in 1977, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act was designed to grant the president authority to address serious foreign threats during national emergencies. Over the decades, it has primarily been used to impose sanctions rather than sweeping tariffs—making this case a major test of executive power in US trade policy.