Supreme Court Blocks President's Emergency Tariffs
The court ruled 6-3 that IEEPA did not authorize sweeping tariffs; Treasury collected more than $133 billion and refunds remain unresolved.
Overview
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize President Donald Trump to impose sweeping tariffs, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote.
The decision invalidates emergency "reciprocal" tariffs imposed in April 2025 and strikes the use of IEEPA to levy import taxes, removing a central plank of Trump's economic agenda.
Small businesses and a coalition called We Pay the Tariffs hailed the ruling, while President Trump called the decision "deeply disappointing" and vowed to seek other statutory authority and a new 10% global tariff.
Federal data from December show the Treasury collected more than $133 billion from the emergency tariffs, and estimates of potential refunds ranged roughly from $1 billion to more than $175 billion.
The White House said officials can use Section 301, Section 232, Section 122 or Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose duties, and lower courts will consider refund claims.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Court decision as a political and legal rebuke to Trump, emphasizing limits on executive power and practical consequences for his agenda. Editorial choices—loaded phrases ("tarnishes his veneer of invincibility," "lashed out"), selective emphasis on political fallout, and contrast with sourced quotes—shape a narrative of weakened presidential authority.
Sources (93)
FAQ
IEEPA, enacted in 1977, allows the president to regulate importation during declared national emergencies to address threats to national security, foreign policy, or the economy, but does not expressly authorize imposing tariffs.
History
48 sources