US President Donald Trump has unveiled a fresh 10% global tariff just hours after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down most of the sweeping import duties his administration introduced last year.
Trump criticised the ruling as “terrible” and attacked justices who voted against the policy, calling them “fools,” while promising to explore alternative legal avenues to reimpose tariffs.
In a 6–3 decision, the court ruled that Trump had exceeded his constitutional authority by imposing broad tariffs without clear congressional authorisation. The ruling is a significant victory for US states and businesses that challenged the levies and could expose the federal government to billions in potential refunds.
Speaking from the White House on Friday, Trump warned that any refunds would face lengthy legal disputes.
“We have alternatives, great alternatives, and we’ll be a lot stronger for it,” he said, adding that court battles over refunds could stretch for years.
US President Donald Trump at the White House announcing a new 10% global tariff after Supreme Court strikes down previous trade duties.
Trump argued that the tariffs are necessary to encourage domestic manufacturing and investment, and said he would rely on other laws to continue his trade agenda.
The legal dispute centred on import taxes affecting goods from nearly every country, initially targeting Mexico, Canada, and China before expanding to dozens of trade partners during what Trump called “Liberation Day” last April.
The White House had justified the measures using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but challengers argued the statute did not explicitly grant the president authority to impose tariffs, warning that the levies would raise consumer prices and disrupt global trade.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the challengers.
“When Congress has delegated its tariff powers, it has done so in explicit terms and subject to strict limits. Had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs, it would have done so expressly,” Roberts wrote.
The ruling was joined by the court’s three liberal justices and Trump appointees Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, while conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Samuel Alito dissented.
Reacting to the decision, Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of the Republican-appointed justices who opposed his trade policy and reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing new tariffs despite the Supreme Court setback.
