Why Did US Supreme Court Reject Trump's Global Tariffs? Here's What It Said

Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 21:46 IST

Donald Trump faced a major blow after the US Supreme Court said he violated federal law with his aggressive tariff policies imposed under a national emergency law.

In a major blow to US President Donald Trump, the US Supreme Court struck down his sweeping tariffs on several countries, saying he exceeded his authority with his trade policies by using a law reserved for a national emergency.

The Conservative-majority court held in a 6-3 ruling that Trump’s aggressive approach to tariffs was not permitted under a 1977 law called the Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The decision upends most of Trump’s tariffs, leaving in place the ones he imposed on steel and aluminium using different laws.

However, Trump said he has a “backup plan" on tariffs after the Supreme Court verdict, even though he did not offer much details. However, business owners who had to pay the tariffs and challenged them expressed relief at the hearing.

READ MORE: Trump Says He Has ‘Backup Plan’ After Top Court Rules Tariffs Illegal

What Did The Court Say?

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts said Trump’s tariffs exceeded the law. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch joined with Roberts and the three liberal justices in the majority. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh offered dissenting opinions.

The court noted that “had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs" with IEEPA, “it would have done so expressly, as it consistently has in other tariff statutes." However, Roberts emphasised that IEEPA “contains no reference to tariffs or duties."

The court noted that imposing tariffs under IEEPA would represent a “transformative expansion of the President’s authority over tariff policy", which no President has ever invoked. “When Congress grants the power to impose tariffs, it does so clearly and with careful constraints. It did neither in IEEPA," the verdict read.

Roberts also observed that the Trump administration had failed to identify any law in which Congress clearly stated that the IEEPA could be used to introduce tariffs. “We hold that IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs."

News world Why Did US Supreme Court Reject Trump's Global Tariffs? Here's What It Said

Read More