How to respond to Trump's 10% global tariff order? The latest response from the U.S. Congress is here

According to Xinhua News Agency, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its ruling on the 20th, ruling that the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose large-scale tariffs.

The Supreme Court made this decision with a 6-3 vote. Three conservative justices Roberts, Gorsuch, and Barrett, along with three liberal justices, found the Trump administration’s tariffs to be unlawful.

Previously, President Trump had publicly commented multiple times on this lawsuit, calling it “one of the most important cases in American history,” and warned that a ruling against him would severely damage the U.S. economy.

“The viewpoint is upheld”

On that day, Chief Justice Roberts cited the separation of powers clause in the U.S. Constitution in his opinion, stating, “Congress has the power to levy taxes, tariffs, import duties, and excise taxes.” Roberts wrote, “Therefore, the government must acknowledge that the president does not have inherent authority to impose tariffs during peacetime.”

Earlier, the Trump administration claimed to have identified emergency situations similar to wartime, which could justify additional tariffs. However, Roberts stated in his opinion that this view is unfounded.

“The government has not argued that these challenged tariffs are acts of the president exercising wartime powers. After all, the United States is not at war with all countries in the world,” Roberts said.

Trump plans to deliver the State of the Union address to Congress next week, where Supreme Court justices will also be present.

Following the ruling, members of both parties in Congress responded.

A week ago, Nebraska Republican Congressman Don Bacon, who had previously broken ranks with Trump and the Republican leadership to help overturn Trump’s tariffs on Canada, praised the Supreme Court’s “common sense ruling.”

“The system of checks and balances established by our Constitution has worked,” Bacon said shortly after the ruling. “I feel that my views over the past 12 months have been vindicated. Moving forward, Congress should defend its own powers rather than rely on the Supreme Court. Besides my constitutional concerns about the government’s broad tariffs, I also believe tariffs are not a wise economic policy. Imposing tariffs across the board is bad economic policy,” Bacon stated.

Another supporter of overturning tariffs on Canada, Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, also expressed approval of the ruling.

“On the surface, the ruling is obvious because the Constitution grants taxing authority to the legislative branch, not the executive,” Massie said. “Any manufactured emergency cannot override this provision.”

Washington State Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse said that the Supreme Court’s decision reaffirmed Congress’s power to impose tariffs under Article I of the Constitution and restored the balance between the legislative and executive branches.

“If used properly, tariffs can effectively facilitate new trade agreements. I will continue to work with the Trump administration to reach trade agreements that prioritize the interests of American farmers, businesses, and consumers,” Newhouse stated.

House Republican Speaker Johnson avoided praising or criticizing the ruling on the same day but said, “Congress and the government will determine the best course of action in the coming weeks.”

How to respond to Trump’s 10% global tariffs?

Trump expressed “deep disappointment” with the Supreme Court’s decision and said other legal means could be used to reimpose tariffs.

According to Xinhua News Agency, President Trump posted on social media on the evening of the 20th that he had just signed an executive order imposing a 10% tariff on goods from all countries and regions, “which took effect almost immediately.”

The ruling also sparked discussions within both parties about the next steps. Republican Congressman Bacon said this decision might prevent a series of upcoming votes in the House opposing tariffs.

“We will see if it is necessary,” he said.

However, Democratic members of the House indicated they might continue to pressure Republicans on this issue in the coming weeks. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a New York Congressman, who has been organizing votes against tariffs, said he would “continue to study the Supreme Court’s ruling to assess future legislative steps.”

In addition, Congress will debate how to refund tariffs—whether to return the money to companies that have already paid tariffs or to consumers.

“The court has ruled these destructive tariffs invalid, but consumers and many small businesses have no legal way to recover what they paid,” said Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren in a statement. “Instead, large corporations with extensive legal and lobbying teams can sue for refunds and keep the money,” she added.

Last week, Colorado Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd, who opposed tariffs on Canada along with Bacon and Massie, called on Congress to coordinate trade policies with Trump.

“We need to ensure stability and predictability in trade policies,” he said. “And the way to achieve that is through congressional action.”

Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell stated that the justices’ ruling “reaffirmed the powers that have belonged to Congress for centuries.”

“If the executive branch wants to craft trade policies affecting American producers and consumers, the path forward is very clear,” McConnell said in a statement. “That is to persuade their representatives in accordance with Article I of the Constitution.”