United States President Donald Trump has increased his global import tariff rate to 15 percent, escalating his trade policy just days after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier sweeping levies. The new rate, announced February 21, takes effect immediately and is the highest level allowed under the statute he is now using.
Donald Trump raises tariffs despite court ruling
The latest Donald Trump tariff announcement came in a post on Truth Social, where the president said the increase was “effective immediately.” He described the court’s ruling as a “ridiculous, poorly written and extraordinarily anti-American decision.”
On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled six to three that Trump’s earlier tariffs were unconstitutional. The justices said the authority to impose and change tariffs lies with Congress, not the president. The decision invalidated tariffs Trump had enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which he had used to impose duties on nearly every country.
Following the ruling, Trump criticized the majority of justices as “fools and lapdogs” and called them an “embarrassment to their families.” He then signed an executive order invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to implement a blanket 10 percent tariff beginning February 24. Saturday’s move raised that rate to 15 percent, which is the maximum permitted under that law.
However, Section 122 tariffs can remain in place for only 150 days unless Congress extends them. No previous president has invoked the statute in this way, raising the possibility of further legal challenges. The White House said the Section 122 tariffs exempt certain products, including critical minerals, metals, and energy goods, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
More than 1,000 lawsuits have already been filed by US importers seeking refunds for tariffs previously imposed under emergency powers. Federal data shows that the US Treasury has collected over USD 133 billion in import taxes as of December. The court ruling and the new tariff rate have also unsettled trade agreements.
