WASHINGTON.- La United States Supreme Court This Friday he determined that the global tariffs promoted by the president Donald Trump under an emergency powers law are illegal.
This ruling represents a significant defeat for the Republican in a central point of his economic agenda.
The decision was approved by a 6-3 vote and focused on “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on almost all countries, as well as other tariffs decreed under the argument of a national emergency.
The judges Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas y Brett Kavanaugh They voted against.
The case constitutes the first major issue on Trump’s agenda that reaches directly the highest court, which he himself helped shape with the appointment of three conservative jurists during his first term.
Trump’s global tariffs and Supreme Court ruling
The judicial resolution focuses on the use of a law of 1977 which allows the president to regulate imports during national emergencies.
The Trump administration maintained that this rule gave it the power to impose taxes on imports.
However, the United States Constitution gives Congress the power to impose tariffs. The highest court concluded that the application of the emergency powers law in this case was not valid to establish wide-ranging global rates.
The Republican president had described the case as one of the most important in the country’s history and assured that a ruling against him would be a hard economic blow for USA.
The legal opposition spanned different political sectors, including libertarian and pro-business groups that are often aligned with the Republican Partywhich showed a broader rejection of the tariff strategy.
Additionally, recent polls have found that the tariffs do not have majority public support, amid widespread concerns about affordability and the impact on the domestic economy.
The consequences of Trump’s tariff war
In April 2025, Trump imposed “reciprocal” tariffs to most countries to face trade deficits that he declared a national emergency.
It had previously applied rates to Canada, China y Mexicolinking them to an emergency related to drug trafficking.
Following these measures, multiple lawsuits were filed, including those from a dozen predominantly Democratic-leaning states and small businesses selling plumbing supplies, educational toys, and women’s cycling clothing.
The plaintiffs argued that the emergency powers law does not mention tariffs and that its use fails various legal tests, including one that once stopped the then-president’s student loan forgiveness program. Joe Biden.
The estimated economic impact of the tariffs amounts to about $3 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Likewise, the Treasury Department has collected more than $133 billion in taxes on imports under this legal figure, according to federal data from December.
What happens now?
The ruling does not prevent Trump from imposing tariffs through other existing laws, although these limit the speed and scope of presidential actions.
Administration officials have indicated that they will seek to maintain the current tariff framework under other legal authorities.
The decision comes even though the Court had previously granted short-term victories to Trump’s emergency agenda, allowing him to move forward with high-profile firings and significant federal funding cuts.
Various companies, including the supermarket chain Costcohave filed lawsuits demanding refunds for fees paid.
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