The US Supreme Court has declared the tariffs imposed by Trump on countries around the world illegal. The Supreme Court of the United States on Friday ruled against President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, which were implemented under a federal law created for national emergency. The court rejected the use of emergency powers to justify major trade measures.
Businessmen affected by the tariff and 12 American states had challenged it in court. Lower courts acknowledged that Trump had excessively used the powers granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). According to the US Constitution, Congress has the right to impose tariffs. Although presidents have used this 1977 law in the past, in most cases it was used to impose bans. Trump was the first President to use it to tax imports on a large scale.
During the hearing on November 5 last year, both conservative and liberal judges appeared to question the government’s argument that the trade deficit is a national emergency under the law. This case was the first important part of Trump’s big economic plans, which reached directly before the country’s highest court. In his first term, Trump appointed three conservative judges, who played a role in determining the direction of the court.
Reciprocal tariffs are illegal
The Supreme Court said that Trump does not have the right to impose tariffs under emergency power. Trump imposed retaliatory tariffs on goods imported from many countries. He said that the ever-increasing trade deficit is a major threat to America’s national security and economic stability. In April 2025, he declared the trade deficit a national emergency and imposed heavy import tariffs on almost every other country.
He also imposed tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico under the same law. Also termed smuggling of fentanyl and other illegal drugs as a national emergency. After this, many states and businessmen filed cases in the court. He said that the Emergency Power Act clearly does not allow imposition of tariff.
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