WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — President Donald Trump said he will raise his new global tariff rate to 15 per cent from 10 per cent, a day after the US Supreme Court struck down the legal foundation of a central plank of his economic programme.
After the ruling on Friday, Mr Trump moved quickly to activate an alternative authority. He signed a proclamation imposing a temporary 10 per cent duty on imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision that allows the president to impose import restrictions for up to 150 days.
The measure was framed as a stopgap, and as proof that the White House still has tools to pursue higher tariffs even after the court’s decision. The Supreme Court ruled that Mr Trump had exceeded his authority when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on dozens of countries, prompting the administration to search for legally defensible substitutes. On Saturday, Mr Trump signalled an escalation.
In a social media post, he said that following a review of the court’s decision he was “effective immediately” raising the worldwide tariff from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, arguing that the higher level is “fully allowed” and “legally tested”. He repeated a long-held grievance that other countries have been “ripping” the United States off for decades.
He also indicated that the increase is not intended to be the final word. Over the coming months, he said, his administration would “determine and issue” a new set of tariffs that are, in his words, legally permissible.
