The Supreme Court on Friday invalidated a significant portion of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff program, dealing a serious blow to one of the administration’s signature economic policies.
In a 6–3 decision, the majority found that the law underpinning the import duties “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.”
The ruling marks a major setback for Trump, who has made tariffs and his claimed authority to levy them on any country at any time without congressional approval a cornerstone of his economic and foreign policy agenda.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
They noted that before Trump, no president had ever used the statute in question “to impose any tariffs, let alone tariffs of this magnitude and scope.”
To justify the “extraordinary” tariff powers, Trump must “point to clear congressional authorization,” the court wrote. “He cannot.”
The ruling was silent on whether tariffs that have been paid under the higher rates will need to be refunded.
PSA BDP will continue sharing additional updates as they become available.
