United States ‘ President , Donald Trump has raised the global tariff rate on imports into the US to 15 per cent, escalating his administration’s trade policy just a day after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down much of his earlier tariff programme.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump described the court’s 6–3 ruling as “extraordinarily anti-American” and announced that his administration would increase import duties to what he called the “fully allowed, and legally tested” 15 per cent level.
The decision comes shortly after the apex court ruled that the president lacked authority under a 1977 economic emergency powers law to impose sweeping global tariffs. Following that judgment, Trump had initially announced a 10 per cent global levy using a different legal pathway before increasing it to 15 per cent.
The new tariff, according to the White House, is temporary and will last for 150 days under existing trade laws. However, exemptions remain for certain sectors already under separate investigations, including pharmaceuticals, as well as goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Despite the setback, the ruling does not affect sector-specific tariffs earlier imposed on steel, aluminium, and other products. Additional sectoral tariffs could emerge from ongoing government probes.
The court’s decision marked one of the most significant judicial rebukes of Trump since his return to office 13 months ago.
The president openly criticised the majority justices who ruled against him, while praising conservative justices who supported his authority.
International reactions have begun to surface. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would consult European allies to develop a coordinated response ahead of his planned visit to Washington in early March.
The US, business groups welcomed the court ruling for providing clarity after months of uncertainty. However, questions remain over whether companies affected by the now-invalidated tariffs will receive refunds — a matter that could trigger years of litigation.
The latest move is expected to heighten tensions in global trade relations as Washington continues to recalibrate its tariff strategy, affecting both allies and rivals alike.
