Tariffs ruling is major blow to Trump's second-term agenda
BBC World
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a significant blow to President Donald Trump's trade agenda, ruling that his authority to impose tariffs on national security grounds is unconstitutional. In a 6-3 decision, the justices determined that only Congress, not the president, has the power to levy tariffs under the Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. This landmark ruling limits Trump's ability to unilaterally use tariffs as a tool for international negotiation and underscores the judiciary's willingness to rein in his expansive use of executive authority.
The case, which was fast-tracked through the court system, stemmed from challenges to Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs imposed in 2018. The majority opinion argued that the law does not grant the president sweeping powers to impose tariffs without congressional approval. While the ruling doesn't immediately invalidate existing tariffs, it sets a precedent for future trade policy, requiring the administration to seek explicit authorization from Congress for any new tariffs.
This decision significantly weakens Trump's leverage in negotiations with other nations. By curbing his ability to unilaterally impose tariffs, the ruling may embolden U.S. trading partners to push back more aggressively on trade disputes. Additionally, the justices' decision could require the Trump administration to refund some of the tariffs collected over the past year, though this issue will now be resolved in lower courts.
The Supreme Court's ruling is a rare check on Trump's authority and marks a turning point in his second-term agenda. While Trump has other tools at his disposal for shaping trade policy, they are more constrained and require greater congressional involvement. This shift could limit the president's ability to act swiftly or unilaterally on international trade issues
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/20/2026