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President Trump answered the Supreme Court’s setback with unmistakable resolve, announcing that the global tariff rate would be increased from 10 percent to the maximum 15 percent allowed under the Trade Act of 1974. The move comes after the Court struck down his earlier emergency-powers approach, and the White House made clear it will use every lawful tool to defend American workers and manufacturing.
The Court’s decision specifically rejected the broad use of emergency authority under IEEPA to impose sweeping tariffs, forcing the administration to pivot to narrower, but still potent, statutory powers in the Trade Act. Section 122 allows a temporary import surcharge up to 15 percent for 150 days, and the administration signaled it would use that pathway rather than surrender to foreign unfairness.
Administration officials say the first order will take effect quickly, with a 10 percent surcharge already scheduled to begin and the president moving to the full 15 percent ceiling as he completes legal paperwork; exemptions for critical minerals, energy products, certain pharmaceuticals, and USMCA goods were described to limit unintended consequences. The Trade Act authority is time-limited—150 days—meaning Congress will have to act if it wants a longer solution, which is exactly where the fight should be.
Conservative economists who understand real-world leverage applauded the pivot, noting that tariffs are more than taxes — they are bargaining chips that force trading partners to open markets and negotiate fairer terms. Former Trump adviser Steve Moore has repeatedly defended the president’s approach as an effective negotiating tool that produces better deals and protects American industry, arguing that tariffs used smartly can complement pro-growth policies.
Predictably, the usual suspects wailed about higher prices and legal chaos, with Democrats and business groups demanding refunds for previously collected duties and warning of consumer pain. Conservatives should not let alarmist headlines drown out the clear fact: America has been on the short end of lopsided trade for decades, and leadership sometimes requires bold, temporary measures to restore balance and bring jobs home.
The politics of the moment are raw—the president publicly rebuked justices who joined the majority while praising dissenters, underscoring a larger battle over who defends American sovereignty and economic security. This fight will play out in courts and Congress, but the message from the White House is simple and unapologetic: America will not be a doormat for unfair trade practices.
Patriots who love this country should see this for what it is: a president using every legal means to protect American industry, stand up to unfair partners, and rebuild our economic independence. Expect follow-on investigations under Section 301 and continued pressure to pry open closed markets; conservatives should rally behind a policy that puts American workers, families, and manufacturers first.
