Trump defies Supreme Court tariff ruling, escalates global duties to 15% amid EU push for unity

In a bold display of defiance following a major Supreme Court setback, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would raise his newly imposed global tariff from 10% to 15%, invoking an obscure trade law to sidestep the court’s restrictions.

The move, detailed in a Truth Social post, comes just a day after the high court invalidated his broader tariff regime under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), deeming it an overreach of executive authority.

As Trump vows to press forward with his protectionist agenda, European leaders, led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are rallying for a coordinated response ahead of Merz’s March visit to Washington, highlighting deepening transatlantic tensions.

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett alongside the liberal justices, struck down tariffs imposed under IEEPA, which Trump had justified by citing trade deficits and the fentanyl crisis.

U.S. Supreme Court invalidates Trump’s tariffs: a win for free trade with thorny implications for EU

The ruling emphasized Congress’s exclusive power over tariffs, limiting the president’s use of emergency statutes for peacetime duties.

Undeterred, Trump swiftly pivoted to Section 122 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a rarely used provision allowing temporary tariffs up to 15% for up to 150 days without congressional approval.

In his post, Trump declared: “I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.”

This escalation exempts critical minerals, metals, and energy products, according to White House statements, but applies broadly to imports from all countries, including allies.

Trade Representative Jamieson Greer explained on Fox News that existing deals would be honoured, with nations like Malaysia and Cambodia facing negotiated 19% rates, while non-deal countries such as Brazil could see temporary reductions from prior highs.

Trump plans to use the 150-day window to craft “legally permissible” alternatives, potentially leveraging national security or unfair trade investigations.

A legal nightmare

However, experts like former U.S. trade official Wendy Cutler express scepticism, noting the untested nature of Section 122 and potential for further legal challenges.

Domestically, Trump’s response has fueled polarization. He lambasted the ruling as a “disgrace,” calling the majority justices “fools” and his appointees “embarrassments.”

A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows his economic approval at 34%, with 57% disapproval, as Democrats blame tariffs for inflation ahead of midterm elections.

On X, reactions range from criticism—Senator Chuck Schumer likened Trump’s tantrum to a “10-year-old”—to defiance, with users highlighting his rejection of the court’s authority.

Conservative outlets like The American Conservative quoted Trump claiming the decision inadvertently strengthened presidential trade powers.

Internationally, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling has been welcomed as a check on unilateralism. French President Emmanuel Macron praised it as evidence of democratic “counterweights to power,” urging fair trade rules.

For the EU, the decision offers partial relief but underscores ongoing vulnerabilities. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking to ARD after a CDU conference in Stuttgart, expressed hope for a reduced tariff burden on German firms, potentially allowing billions in refunds.

Merz, set to meet Trump in early March, emphasized unity: “I will go to Washington with a coordinated European position,” noting that tariff policy is an EU competence, not for individual states.

He warned of the “biggest poison” for economies being “constant uncertainty about tariffs,” and in prior statements, asserted Europe’s readiness to defend itself if measures go “too far.”

This push for cohesion comes amid strained EU-US relations, exacerbated by Trump’s earlier tariffs and the uncertainty surrounding the Turnberry agreement. Merz plans consultations with leaders like Macron and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to forge a “very clear European position.”

EU officials are assessing implications, with French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Nicolas Forissier hinting at retaliatory tools.

Analysts warn that Trump’s escalation could ignite a broader trade war, harming global growth and forcing Europe to balance defence of its interests with alliance maintenance.

Trump’s Supreme Court setback comes back-to-back with a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, positioning American forces for potential airstrikes against Iran as the U.S. President openly considers limited military action to pressure Tehran into a new nuclear deal.

Trump pushes U.S. toward war with Iran as advisers urge focus on economy

With Reuters, edited by g.g.

Caption: US President Donald Trump turns to talk to the press pool during the Governors Dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 21 February 2026. EPA/Samuel Corum / POOL