President Donald Trump wasted no time defying a Supreme Court setback, inking a new order for a blanket 10% tariff across all global imports starting right away. The flat-rate levy replaces his earlier plan for customized duties, ruled unlawful under emergency powers.
Returning to power with a strong mandate, Trump aimed to force fairer trade deals. But the court’s rejection of IEEPA for tariffs forced a workaround. ‘It’s absurd – I can destroy trade with a country, ban them outright, but can’t charge 10 bucks?’ Trump vented in a fiery press briefing.
He detailed the irony: permissions to halt business entirely exist, yet fee collection does not under the struck-down authority. On Truth Social, triumph shone through: ‘Great honor signing global 10% tariff from Oval Office – effective almost immediately!’
A White House aide explained the shift: countries in prior trade talks, including major players like Japan and the EU, now face this interim 10% hit via Section 122 powers. ‘This is temporary while we pursue more tailored rates under other authorities,’ the official noted, urging partners to stick to barrier-reduction pledges.
Trump’s gambit underscores his ‘America First’ doctrine, prioritizing domestic savings over revenue generation. Critics decry it as inflationary, but supporters hail protection for U.S. industries. With stock futures dipping and allies protesting, the tariff war intensifies, reshaping international commerce in unpredictable ways.