The United States Supreme Court struck a blow to White House economic policy by invalidating most previously implemented tariffs. In response, President Donald Trump promptly signed an executive order imposing a 10% tax on imports from around the world. The new regulations are set to take effect this week, with strategic exemptions planned.

Ruling Limiting Powers

The US Supreme Court ruled (by a 6:3 vote) that Donald Trump's collection of last year's reciprocal tariffs was unfounded from the perspective of general management legislation.

Global Tariff Strike

The American president responded by imposing a 10 percent tariff fee on all selected imports, activating the provisions starting Tuesday, February 24.

Strategic Exemptions

The presidential economic sanctions are intended to last 150 days, sparing from taxation critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, books, and supplies from the Mexico and Canada area.

Threat of Massive Payouts

The US federal government will have to deal with ruthless settlements after the 2025 tariffs were deemed unjust. Potential compensation is estimated at a staggering $175 billion.

The decision by the United States Supreme Court triggered a cascade of consequences in the global economy, swiftly met with an unprecedented reaction from the administration. The justices of the highest court, by a 6 to 3 vote, ruled on Friday that Donald Trump had committed an illegal abuse by imposing reciprocal protective tariffs in 2025. The ruling overturned the thesis that the head of state could rely without limits on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The decision proved that the exclusive right to formulate long-term tariff regimes still belongs to Congress.

Legal-political tariff powers in the US have been teetering on the edge of a constitutional dispute for nearly a century. Although the Constitution assigns strict control over the imposition of taxes and tariffs to the legislative branch, Congress has successively delegated crisis response powers to the institution of the president, starting from the crises of the 1930s to key trade reforms in the post-war era.

The Republican president openly criticized the independent justice system. The American leader publicly called the judges handling the case "fools," and labeled Friday's invalidation a "shameful and pathetic verdict." He then refused to capitulate in the economic war sector. In the evening, he issued a new executive order formulated within the Oval Office. „"It is a great honor for me to have just signed a document introducing a global tariff of 10 percent on all countries, which will take effect almost immediately"” — Donald Trump – he communicated to the public via the Truth Social platform.

US Tariff Conflict Timeline: February 20, 2026 — Supreme Court invalidates Trump's 2025 tariffs; February 21, 2026 — President signs decree on 10% global tariff; February 24, 2026 — Planned entry into force of new federal regulations

The new taxation, based on a modified, temporary legal regime, was set at exactly 10 percent, with its validity period planned for the next 150 days. The White House is attempting to avert a global supply crisis, anticipating significant gaps in sealing American trade borders. Countries in the economic bloc based on free trade agreements (USMCA) were temporarily placed on the list of entities exempt from the restrictions, protecting exports from Canada and Mexico. Imports of critical raw materials, fertilizers, cars, beef, and even medicines and energy carriers were also directly exempted.

175 mld dolarów — Estimated scale of legal refunds for illegally collected tariffs

The effects of the verdict and the presidential countermove raise serious doubts in the broad commodities market. The golden mean remains forcing the federal agency to provide historic compensation. The state of Illinois demanded an almost immediate compensatory transfer amounting to $8.6 billion. The Wall Street Journal, representing the elite of the New York stock exchange, published a manifesto and urged the US president to issue public apologies to the bodies of the independent judiciary.

US Supreme Court Justices: For invalidation (blocking Trump): 6, Against invalidation (supporting the president): 3

Mentioned People

  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, signatory of the order on new, global customs tariffs.