The Supreme Court of the United States ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump violated federal law by unilaterally imposing sweeping global tariffs, marking a major legal setback for the administration on a policy central to its economic and foreign affairs agenda.
In a 6–3 decision, the Court found that the tariffs exceeded the president’s legal authority. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, stated that the president had claimed extraordinary powers to impose tariffs of unlimited scope and duration without clear authorization from Congress.
The Court ruled that the emergency powers cited by the administration did not provide sufficient legal basis for the tariffs. Roberts emphasized that when Congress grants tariff powers, it does so explicitly and with clear limitations, which were absent in this case.
While the Court declared the tariffs unlawful, it did not decide what should happen to the more than $130 billion already collected from importers. The issue is expected to be addressed by lower courts.
Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch joined Roberts and the three liberal justices in the majority, while Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
The ruling follows earlier decisions by lower courts that also found the emergency tariffs violated federal law. Businesses had challenged the measures, arguing that the administration lacked the authority to impose them without congressional approval.
The administration had argued that the tariffs were justified under presidential powers related to foreign affairs and trade regulation, but the Court rejected that claim, stating that emergency economic authority does not extend to imposing broad tariffs without clear legislative approval.
