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US Supreme Court Blocks Trump Tariffs

Published February 20, 2026, 17:10
US Supreme Court Blocks Trump Tariffs

The US Supreme Court has blocked some of Donald Trump's tariffs with a 6-3 vote. The court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs through a law intended only for national emergencies. The decision focuses on the use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives the president the power to “regulate” trade balances in response to emergencies. Trump had invoked the law to impose tariffs on products from China, Mexico, and Canada, arguing that drug trafficking constituted a state of emergency. He also imposed tariffs in April, arguing that the US trade deficit constituted an “extraordinary and unusual threat.” The court clarified that the decision does not affect tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, such as those on steel, aluminum, wood, and automobiles. This decision is a significant victory for businesses and countries that were affected by Trump's tariffs.