The Supreme Court has ruled with a 6-3 majority that President Trump overstepped his legal authority when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose tariffs on imported goods, a power constitutionally reserved to Congress.
Worth around $130bn, these tariffs have been central to Trump’s economic policy to increase investment and manufacturing in the US rather than overseas. First invoked in February 2025 to tax goods from China, Mexico and Canada — which Trump claimed posed “extraordinary and unusual threats” — these tariffs were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court for exceeding the emergency powers permitted under IEEPA.
The ruling marks the first time a major policy in Trump’s second term has been struck down by the Supreme Court, representing not just a legal decision but a significant constraint on his power. Over the past year, a majority of the justices have often allowed Trump to continue his agenda, in particular towards immigration, despite legal challenges working their way through the courts. In this context, the decision represents a comparatively rare check on his authority. It also highlights the broader debate about executive accountability and the balance of powers, under which Congress has the authority to levy taxes, not the president.
The Court’s response, however, is not entirely surprising. Many legal experts had predicted that the tariffs could face challenges, as IEEPA had never been used to justify import duties before. Whether Trump anticipated this outcome is unclear, particularly as his previous policies were not challenged in this way, yet his reaction was undoubtedly swift.
Following the ruling, he declared he felt “ashamed” of the three conservative judges who struck down the tariffs and called the three liberal judges a “disgrace”. In response, he imposed a new temporary global tariff of 10 per cent, with plans to raise it to 15 per cent.
This reaction highlights the President’s priorities in his second term. Rather than seeking legislative backing or adjusting his approach, Trump appears more focused on preserving the key objectives of his trade policy. Yet, the ruling serves as a reminder that even the President’s power can be limited. Although he has criticised the decision as “deeply disappointing” and an “economic and national security disaster”, the Court’s judgment reinforces that decisions over taxation ultimately lie with Congress.
What happens next is likely to involve continued legal and political tension. Businesses affected by the invalidated tariffs could seek refunds, and further challenges could arise if the new temporary measures are expanded. While Trump remains determined to pursue his economic agenda, the Court’s intervention signals that executive power still has its limits, and that such boundaries will remain a significant constraint in Trump’s second term unless he secures the backing of Congress.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
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Trump’s Tariffs Struck Down by the Supreme Court, a Reasserted Judiciary?
The Supreme Court has ruled with a 6-3 majority that President Trump overstepped his legal authority when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose tariffs on imported goods, a power constitutionally reserved to Congress.
Worth around $130bn, these tariffs have been central to Trump’s economic policy to increase investment and manufacturing in the US rather than overseas. First invoked in February 2025 to tax goods from China, Mexico and Canada — which Trump claimed posed “extraordinary and unusual threats” — these tariffs were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court for exceeding the emergency powers permitted under IEEPA.
The ruling marks the first time a major policy in Trump’s second term has been struck down by the Supreme Court, representing not just a legal decision but a significant constraint on his power. Over the past year, a majority of the justices have often allowed Trump to continue his agenda, in particular towards immigration, despite legal challenges working their way through the courts. In this context, the decision represents a comparatively rare check on his authority. It also highlights the broader debate about executive accountability and the balance of powers, under which Congress has the authority to levy taxes, not the president.
The Court’s response, however, is not entirely surprising. Many legal experts had predicted that the tariffs could face challenges, as IEEPA had never been used to justify import duties before. Whether Trump anticipated this outcome is unclear, particularly as his previous policies were not challenged in this way, yet his reaction was undoubtedly swift.
Following the ruling, he declared he felt “ashamed” of the three conservative judges who struck down the tariffs and called the three liberal judges a “disgrace”. In response, he imposed a new temporary global tariff of 10 per cent, with plans to raise it to 15 per cent.
This reaction highlights the President’s priorities in his second term. Rather than seeking legislative backing or adjusting his approach, Trump appears more focused on preserving the key objectives of his trade policy. Yet, the ruling serves as a reminder that even the President’s power can be limited. Although he has criticised the decision as “deeply disappointing” and an “economic and national security disaster”, the Court’s judgment reinforces that decisions over taxation ultimately lie with Congress.
What happens next is likely to involve continued legal and political tension. Businesses affected by the invalidated tariffs could seek refunds, and further challenges could arise if the new temporary measures are expanded. While Trump remains determined to pursue his economic agenda, the Court’s intervention signals that executive power still has its limits, and that such boundaries will remain a significant constraint in Trump’s second term unless he secures the backing of Congress.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
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