Trump Warns Nations: “Play Games” With Court Ruling And Face Steep Tariff Hikes
US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to trading partners, cautioning that any country attempting to exploit a recent Supreme Court decision by backing away from newly negotiated trade agreements will encounter significantly higher import duties.
In posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared: “Any Country that wants to ‘play games’ with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially those that have ‘Ripped Off’ the USA for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to. BUYER BEWARE!!!”
The admonition follows the Supreme Court’s ruling last Friday, which invalidated many of Trump’s broad tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The 6-3 decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, held that the 1977 law does not grant the president authority to levy tariffs, even amid declared national emergencies related to issues such as trade deficits and drug inflows.
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Despite the setback, Trump asserted that the ruling paradoxically strengthens his position by confirming his ability to deploy tariffs through alternative legal channels “in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty.” He also floated the idea of introducing license fees on trading partners, without providing specifics.
In response to the court’s decision, the administration moved swiftly. Trump first announced a temporary 10% duty on imports from all countries under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, then elevated it to the statutory maximum of 15%. This new levy is scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. EST on Tuesday. Concurrently, US Customs and Border Protection confirmed it would cease collecting the now-unlawful IEEPA-based duties.
The developments have injected fresh uncertainty into global trade. The European Union postponed a vote on its trade pact with the US, seeking greater clarity. Nations including China have called for the removal of tariff barriers, while India has delayed scheduled discussions. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated over the weekend that new investigations into unfair trade practices under Section 301 could soon target several countries, potentially paving the way for additional tariff threats.
Financial markets reflected the unease, with Wall Street declining in early trading: the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.34%, the S&P 500 fell 0.65%, and the Nasdaq Composite eased 0.65%. The US dollar index slipped 0.2% against major currencies.
Trump’s social media comments also included criticism of the Supreme Court justices, including two he appointed in his first term, who sided with the majority in limiting executive overreach on trade policy. The ruling has broader implications, as Trump voiced concerns about potential future court decisions affecting other administration priorities, such as restrictions on birthright citizenship