WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Monday renewed his criticism of the Supreme Court of the United States after it struck down his broad tariff program last week. The court ruled that he had overstepped his authority by imposing sweeping import taxes under an economic emergency law.
In a social media post, Trump said other tariff powers remain available and could be used in a “more powerful” way with stronger legal backing, though he did not provide specifics. Over the weekend, he announced plans to raise a temporary tariff on imports from 10% to 15% — the maximum allowed under the relevant law.
Trump also suggested using licensing mechanisms to pressure other countries, questioning why the U.S. could not charge license fees on imports. He argued that licenses typically involve fees and hinted at alternative strategies his administration might pursue.
Financial markets reacted nervously. Wall Street futures and the dollar slipped amid uncertainty over U.S. trade policy, while oil prices fluctuated before stabilizing on news of possible U.S.-Iran talks.
The court’s ruling, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, reaffirmed judicial limits on presidential power. Meanwhile, key trading partners including China, the European Union and India are reassessing trade engagements with Washington.
