The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump violated federal law when he unilaterally imposed tariffs on most countries in the world. The court agreed that the tariffs exceeded the bounds of the law. Six justices voted for this decision, while three opposed it, CNN reported on February 20.
“The President claims he has extraordinary powers to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited size, duration, and scope,” said Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking on behalf of the justices, as quoted by Meduza.
However, according to him, the president was required to obtain permission from Congress to impose tariffs. The extraordinary powers that Trump attempted to rely on, in the court's opinion, do not meet the requirements of the law.
Trump called the Supreme Court's decision a "disgrace," CNN sources claim. According to them, during breakfast with governors at the White House, he stated that he has a backup plan.
Donald Trump announced in April 2025 that he was imposing trade tariffs on 180 countries and territories. He gave countries three months to negotiate with the U.S. and conclude new trade agreements. During these three months, a temporary rate of 10% was imposed on all countries. The negotiation process was later extended. The tariff order came into effect in August. The adjusted tariffs ranged from 10% to 41%, imposed on 69 countries.
Previously, various courts in the U.S. ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs under a law intended for use only in cases of national emergencies. The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court after the U.S. Court of Appeals and District Judge Rudolph Contreras from Washington ruled against the White House, Reuters reports.
