- By Raju Kumar
- Sat, 21 Feb 2026 10:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Trump Vs US Supreme Court: US President Donald Trump's tariff strategy, which he used to compel trading partner countries to sign a deal with America, got the first major, in fact, a decisive blow from the Supreme Court on Friday. The US top court revoked Trump's sweeping emergency global tariff, terming it illegal. A group of 6 judges changed the entire direction of the tariff war waged by Trump against the US's trade partners across the globe.
'Trump Administration Exceeded Its Legal Authority'
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs.
ALSO READ: Trump Increases Global Tariffs From 10% To 15% Day After Setback From US Supreme Court
Trump Opens Front Against Supreme Court
Terming the SC's ruling as a "terrible decision", Trump announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits. On Saturday, he announced that the global tariff will be increased to 15%.
Judges Who Were In Support Of Trump Tariff
Judges Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, supporting the administration's broader interpretation of emergency powers.
ALSO READ: Trump's New 10% Global Tariffs To Provide Exemptions For Pharma, Aerospace And THESE Products
Judges Who Struck Down The Tariffs
While Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and the three liberal justices, held that the IEEPA does not explicitly authorise the president to levy duties--a power the Constitution assigns to Congress.
Chief Justice John Roberts: He wrote the majority order, observing that the Constitution reserves tariff and tax powers to Congress, not the President, reported News18.
Justice Elena Kagan: Justice Kagan pointed out the importance of statutory interpretation and constitutional boundaries, joining the majority judgment.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor: Justice Sotomayor, a liberal judge, gave her assent to the majority ruling, asserting that the emergency statute fails to grant wide-ranging tariff powers.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Justice Jackson voted in favour of revocation of the Trump tariff, saying that the emergency statute cannot be used to justify wide-ranging tariffs.
Two Judges Appointed By Trump Oppose Tariff
Justice Neil Gorsuch: Interestingly, Justice Gorsuch is a conservative justice, and he was appointed by the Trump administration. He voted with the majority.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett: Like Justice Gorsuch, Justice Barrett was also appointed by Trump. She too voted with the majority, stressing the limits of presidential trade power.
(With agencies inputs)