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Just hours after the United States Supreme Court declared most of the global tariffs imposed under emergency powers illegal, President Donald Trump struck back with an announcement that once again shook global trade: a global tariff of 15% effective immediately, with the warning that it could increase.
In a message posted on his social network Truth Social, Trump confirmed that he will impose a tariff on countries that, according to him, have been "scamming the U.S. for decades" and left the possibility of further increases open in the coming months. "The Administration will determine and issue the new legally permissible tariffs," he wrote, in a defiant tone following the judicial setback.
The ruling that sparked the storm
The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States was clear: the president cannot impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) because that law does not expressly authorize the creation of taxes.
With six votes in favor and three against, the Court retroactively annulled a significant portion of the "reciprocal" tariffs that Trump had imposed on dozens of countries, including rates of up to 34% for China and general rates of 10% for most imports.
The impact is significant: more than 150 billion dollars collected in the last year could be subject to refund claims. Importing companies have already initiated legal actions, which opens a complex economic and budgetary front.
Trump's "plan B"
Far from retracting, the president announced that he will invoke Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows for tariffs of up to 15% for a maximum of 150 days.
"The Supreme Court did not annul the tariffs themselves, just a specific use of the law," Trump stated to the press. He explained that the levies for national security reasons — such as those applied to steel and aluminum — will remain in effect.
The president also mentioned other legal tools, including Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which was signed at the time by John F. Kennedy, and even recalled the historic Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, a symbol of extreme protectionism during the Great Depression.
Political and fiscal tension
The announcement comes at a particularly sensitive moment. Trump had proposed funding $2,000 checks for middle-class families and increasing military spending using tariff revenue. With the court ruling, that source of funds is now in question.
The projected federal deficit for 2025 could approach two trillion dollars, while public debt hovers around 100% of GDP. The possibility of having to repay billions to companies adds pressure to the budget debate in Congress.
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