Trump raises global tariffs by 5% in 24 hours:Ups rates from 10% to 15% after US Supreme Court scraps old tariffs

US President Donald Trump has announced an increase in global tariffs from 10% to 15%, sharing the update on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday. A day earlier, during a press conference on Friday night, Trump had stated that he would impose a 10% tariff on imports from all countries. The announcement follows a decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down the earlier tariffs in a 6–3 ruling on Friday. The Court held that the President does not have the authority to impose such sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), clarifying that this power rests solely with Congress. In response to the ruling, Trump invoked Section 122 of US trade law to reimpose tariffs, initially setting them at 10% before increasing them to 15%. Under Section 122, tariffs of up to 15% may be imposed for a maximum of 150 days. Any extension beyond that period would require approval from Congress. 15% Tariff to be implemented from 24 February Trump has imposed a new tariff on countries around the world by signing an order. This 15% tariff will come into effect from 24 February. Before this, he also criticized the judges who declared the tariff illegal yesterday. Trump said, “I am ashamed of some judges in the court. They are a disgrace to the country, they don’t have the courage to do the right thing for our country. On the trade deal with India, Trump said that there will be no change in this deal. PM Modi is my good friend.” 5 key takeaways from Trump’s press conference Trump to impose new tariffs under Section 122 US President Donald Trump plans to impose new tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows temporary tariffs for up to 150 days in response to trade deficits or economic threats. Any extension would require congressional approval. According to NBC News, a uniform 15% global tariff could lower rates for countries currently facing higher duties. Certain goods including some agricultural products, critical minerals, medicines, electronics and passenger vehicles will be exempt. The administration said the new tariffs will replace the previous ones and help raise revenue. Nixon imposed a 10% global tariff 55 years ago In 1971, amid a sharp trade and balance of payments imbalance, the US was importing far more than it was exporting, placing significant pressure on the dollar. In response, President Richard Nixon imposed a 10% global tariff on imports. The move highlighted the need for clearer presidential authority during economic emergencies. As a result, Congress later passed the Trade Act of 1974, granting the President powers to address sudden trade deficits or economic crises. According to a report by The New York Times, Section 122 of the Act has never been used before. As a result, it remains uncertain how courts would interpret the provision if it were challenged legally. Court reprimands Trump, says US not at war with every country Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the Trump administration, stating that the US is not at war with every country in the world. However, three judges, Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh, dissented from the decision. Kavanaugh wrote in his note that whether the tariff policy was wise or not was a separate question, but according to him, it was legally valid. Kavanaugh also mentioned in his note the tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil. He wrote that these tariffs were imposed under sensitive issues related to foreign policy and national security. There are a total of 9 judges in the US Supreme Court. Of these, 6 judges were appointed by Republican presidents, while 3 judges were appointed by Democratic presidents. All three judges who voted against the decision were appointed by Republican presidents. Court’s decision has not ended all tariffs The court’s order has not ended all of Trump’s tariffs. Tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum were imposed under different laws, so they will still remain in effect. However, two major categories of tariffs have been halted. The first category is reciprocal tariffs, which Trump imposed on various countries. This included a 34% tariff on China and a 10% baseline tariff for the rest of the world. Following the court’s decision, these tariffs have become invalid. The second category is of 25% tariff, which Trump had imposed on some goods coming from Canada, China and Mexico. The Trump administration had said that these countries did not take sufficient steps to stop the smuggling of fentanyl into the US. The court’s decision has also revoked this 25% tariff. US collected $200 billion from tariffs, suspense over refund According to a New York Times report, since the beginning of last year, the Trump administration has collected more than $200 billion in tariffs. After the Supreme Court’s decision, a big question has arisen regarding the refund of this amount. After the decision, it is not clear whether the government will have to return the money collected from companies or not. The Trump administration had previously stated that if the case was lost, trade agreements with many countries might have to be withdrawn and heavy refunds might have to be paid. Trump had imposed tariffs using a 49-year-old law At the center of Trump’s tariff dispute is a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This law was enacted in 1977. Its purpose was to grant certain special powers to the President if the country faced a serious threat such as a war-like situation, a major economic threat from a foreign adversary, or an extraordinary international crisis. Under these powers, the President can block foreign transactions, control them, or immediately implement certain economic decisions. Trump had relied on IEEPA to impose tariffs. Supreme Court had questioned the tariffs Last November, the Supreme Court had questioned the legal basis for the Trump administration’s tariffs. During that time, judges had asked whether the President has the authority to impose such global tariffs. The court held a long hearing on this matter. The court said that Trump can impose 15% tariffs for 150 days, but solid reasons are required for this. The ruling stated that the word ‘tariff’ is not mentioned anywhere in IEEPA, nor are there any clear limits set on the President’s powers. 12 states had sued against Trump Trump announced these tariffs last April. Several small businesses and 12 states in America filed a lawsuit against these tariffs. They argued that the President imposed new tariffs on imported goods beyond his authority. The states of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Vermont, along with small businesses, filed this case against the Trump administration. Lower courts had declared the tariffs illegal Earlier, lower courts (Court of International Trade and Federal Circuit Court) had declared the tariffs illegal. They believed that IEEPA does not grant such broad power to impose tariffs. The Supreme Court had heard oral arguments in November 2025, where judges had expressed skepticism about the arguments presented by Trump. Despite the court’s 6-3 majority, the Justices had questioned whether the President could impose tariffs on such a large scale without congressional approval, as tariffs are a form of tax and are the responsibility of Parliament. Source: Google Trends