Trump Imposes New 10 Percent Global Tariff Following Supreme Court Ruling Against Emergency Trade Powers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday afternoon that imposes a 10% global tariff on all imported goods, a direct response to a Supreme Court ruling that dismantled his previous trade strategy. The new order uses Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This legal mechanism is designed to address national balance of payments deficits, but it comes with a strict expiration date. The decision to switch legal justifications follows a major defeat for the administration at the Supreme Court. The justices ruled that the president’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to implement broad tariffs was illegal. By shifting to the 1974 Trade Act, the president is attempting to maintain his economic policy while navigating the constraints set by the judicial branch. According to the text of the Trade Act of 1974, these new 10% duties can remain in place for only 150 days. If the administration wants to keep the tariffs active beyond that five-month window, it will need to secure a vote of approval from Congress. This creates a looming deadline for a legislative body that is already deeply divided over trade and executive authority. The president was not quiet about his frustration with the court’s conservative majority. During the signing event, he singled out Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both of whom he appointed during his first term. He described the ruling as an “embarrassment” and suggested that foreign influence had affected the court’s decision-making process. He provided no evidence to support the claim of foreign interference in the judicial ruling. Legal scholars are already looking at the history of Section 122, which has not seen significant use since the Nixon era. It was originally passed to help manage the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. While the president is confident in the temporary authority, groups representing importers and retail manufacturers are expected to file challenges in the U.S. Court of International Trade. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.