The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariffs

[hist78]

Summary

Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs have been struck down by the US Supreme Court, in a major blow to the president's economic agenda, that he calls a "disgrace"

With a 6-3 majority, the Supreme Court rules Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs via a law reserved for national emergencies - they say he needs congressional approval to impose taxes on imports

The court's decision represents a rare check on this president's broad use of executive authority - read our North America correspondent's snap analysis

The ruling applies to his so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs, but not individual tariffs he's imposed on specific countries or products

Trump has long argued tariffs boost American manufacturing - but many in the business community, as well as Trump's political adversaries, say the costs are passed on to consumers

Wall Street responds quickly and positively to the court's ruling in early trading

What are tariffs? They're taxes on imported goods, which are usually charged as a percentage of a good's value. They're paid to the government by companies bringing in the foreign products

Trump to speak after Supreme Court struck down global tariffs - follow live

The Supreme Court ruled with a 6-3 majority that Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs via a law reserved for national emergencies.

www.bbc.com

 

[swka]

but he can always do non-global ones, right? There are only a handsful of countries left to neogotiate

 

[KevinK]

but he can always do non-global ones, right? There are only a handsful of countries left to neogotiate

We'll have to see - Almost none of the "negotiated" agreements are completed. For instance, the “Trump–Modi” trade deal Trump opined about today is only an interim trade framework agreed in early February 2026 that rolls back Trump’s tariff war on India in exchange for big Indian purchase commitments and some market‑access concessions, but it is not yet a fully signed, detailed free‑trade agreement.

 

[hist78]

We'll have to see - Almost none of the "negotiated" agreements are completed. For instance, the “Trump–Modi” trade deal Trump opined about today is only an interim trade framework agreed in early February 2026 that rolls back Trump’s tariff war on India in exchange for big Indian purchase commitments and some market‑access concessions, but it is not yet a fully signed, detailed free‑trade agreement.

A similar situation happened with the Taiwan–US trade agreement. It is currently waiting for Taiwan’s legislators to debate and vote on it. They may need to renegotiate and modify the agreement to a certain degree. For example, if the US Congress passes laws that require lower taxes for certain items than those specified in the agreement, US importers should be able to pay less.

Another interesting issue is that Trump and his team have kept saying that foreign companies are paying the tariffs. For those allegedly illegal tariffs that were collected ($100 billion or more), who should receive a refund—foreign exporters, US importers, or US consumers?

 

[tonyget]

Trump Imposes 10% Global Tariff After Supreme Court Rules Against Him​

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/20/us/trump-tariffs-supreme-court

Trump’s workaround: The ruling eliminated Mr. Trump’s primary tool for imposing tariffs, but he moved to work around the court by imposing levies using other trade powers. He cited Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act in setting the 10 percent tariff for Tuesday. No president before him had invoked that provision. He also said he would use Section 301 of the act to investigate other countries’ unfair trade practices, possibly resulting in additional tariffs.

 

[Barnsley]

We'll have to see - Almost none of the "negotiated" agreements are completed. For instance, the “Trump–Modi” trade deal Trump opined about today is only an interim trade framework agreed in early February 2026 that rolls back Trump’s tariff war on India in exchange for big Indian purchase commitments and some market‑access concessions, but it is not yet a fully signed, detailed free‑trade agreement.

Lets hope India is actually committed to buying whatever Donny claims they agreed to buy.

 

[Michael Domnitei]

This is a NothingBurger in the end. Remember when the Supreme Court struck down Biden Student loan forgiveness? Biden just gave them the middle finger and continued ignoring the court decision. So, Trump can fight this in court for the next 5 years and in the meantime find other legal means to continue the tariff practice. The Congress should grow-up and do their job to implement the tariff regulation so we don't spent all this time fighting some BS which in the end works against the interest of the country.

 

[hist78]

Press Conference: Donald Trump Addresses the Supreme Court Tariff Decision - February 20, 2026​

What Trump said ​

00:18:40-00:19:11 (31 sec)
No Signal (0.5)
Same thing with, as an example, Taiwan. Taiwan came in, they stole our chip business. They make chips. For 30 years longer, they made chip, chip, chip and they put our companies -- Intel would be now the largest company -- I saved Intel. I literally saved it at the beginning of this administration. And now all those companies in Taiwan are building factories in Arizona, Texas and various other places because they don't want to pay tariffs.

​

00:19:11-00:19:32 (21 sec)
No Signal (0.224)
They're all pouring into the United States. But just like that great patriot said yesterday, sir, what you've done, nobody thought was possible. And Steve Moore, a highly respected economist, came into my office yesterday. He said, you've done something nobody's ever done. 22 Nobel Prize winners in economics said we would right now be in a recession.


Full Transcript Source: https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump...rence-supreme-court-tariffs-february-20-2026/

 

[hist78]

Press Conference: Donald Trump Addresses the Supreme Court Tariff Decision - February 20, 2026​

What Trump said ​

00:18:40-00:19:11 (31 sec)
No Signal (0.5)
Same thing with, as an example, Taiwan. Taiwan came in, they stole our chip business. They make chips. For 30 years longer, they made chip, chip, chip and they put our companies -- Intel would be now the largest company -- I saved Intel. I literally saved it at the beginning of this administration. And now all those companies in Taiwan are building factories in Arizona, Texas and various other places because they don't want to pay tariffs.

​

00:19:11-00:19:32 (21 sec)
No Signal (0.224)
They're all pouring into the United States. But just like that great patriot said yesterday, sir, what you've done, nobody thought was possible. And Steve Moore, a highly respected economist, came into my office yesterday. He said, you've done something nobody's ever done. 22 Nobel Prize winners in economics said we would right now be in a recession.


Full Transcript Source: https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump...rence-supreme-court-tariffs-february-20-2026/

It’s a profoundly dark moment in US history, to say the least.

 

[coldsolder215]

Tariffs was like 3 or 4 crises ago, they served their purpose for insider trading and now we can move on to the next charade.

 

[Xebec]

It’s a profoundly dark moment in US history, to say the least.

" And Steve Moore, a highly respected economist, came into my office yesterday. He said, you've done something nobody's ever done. 22 Nobel Prize winners in economics said we would right now be in a recession."

..

It's worth noting that the US recovered out of the Great Depression *despite* many economic policies that were implemented by the sitting President that were contrary to economic growth and wealth building.

i.e. On one hand, Presidential policies probably don't impact the economy as much as we think. On the other hand, when we do see athecorrection, the recovery will be hampered by actions like the tariffs and trade wars we're now in. (also a reminder - both parties ran on pro-tariff platforms in 2024. Will they learn in 2028 is the question).

 

[Paul2]

I hear roar from Dongguan

Chinese factory owners are not afraid of tariffs as such, as the chance that money streams will switch to South Asia, and raise their future competitors there. Now, whomever put their money on India, Bangladesh, Pakistan will be burned as their tariff advantage got nullified.