Donald Trump on Saturday announced an increase in global import tariffs to 15 percent, escalating his trade policy stance just a day after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that key elements of his tariff mechanism were illegal.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the administration would raise the previously announced 10 percent worldwide tariff “to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” effective immediately.
The decision comes in response to what Trump described as an “extraordinarily anti-American decision” by the Supreme Court, which limited the scope of his authority to impose sweeping tariffs under the earlier framework.
Court Ruling and Policy Shift
The Supreme Court’s ruling reportedly found that the mechanism used to implement portions of the tariff programme exceeded executive authority. While the judgment curbed parts of the administration’s trade strategy, it did not entirely block tariff action, prompting the White House to recalibrate the rate within what Trump described as legally permissible bounds.
Economic and Global Impact
The tariff hike is expected to affect a wide range of imports into the United States, potentially escalating trade tensions with key global partners. Economists warn that higher import duties could lead to increased consumer prices and retaliatory measures from affected countries.
The move signals that despite judicial constraints, the administration intends to continue pursuing an aggressive trade agenda.