Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B.

The Supreme Court's ruling against Trump's tariff policy, specifically its use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPA), is the central focus. The court determined that Trump overstepped his authority, as Congress never explicitly granted tariffing power to the executive branch through this law. While tariffs already collected may face refund claims, Trump plans to circumvent the ruling by using Section 122 of trade law for short-term tariffs and initiating investigations under Section 301 to justify longer-term measures. Despite skepticism in Congress and mixed economic results, including increased costs for businesses and consumers alongside a failure to significantly reduce the trade deficit or boost manufacturing jobs, the administration aims to maintain its tariff regime, valuing the revenue and political symbolism.