Supreme Court Won’t Block Trump’s Tariffs, Officials Warn “Deal With It”

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is reviewing the legality of sweeping global tariffs imposed by Donald Trump using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Despite lower courts finding the policy unlawful, the conservative‑majority Court appears likely to let the tariffs remain in place. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other administration officials say that even if IEEPA is struck down, the government will pivot to other statutes—such as Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, or Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930—to maintain tariff policy. Bessent declared “You should assume that they’re here to stay.” 

Key points:

• The tariffs have been used as a tool of diplomacy and coercion, targeting trade‑partners such as China and India over issues like oil deals and drug trafficking. 

• Over $100 billion in revenue has already been collected under IEEPA‑based tariffs this year. If those are invalidated, the U.S. Treasury may face major refund obligations. 

• Businesses are bracing for higher costs: tariffs are estimated to have added around 0.4 percentage point to recent U.S. inflation readings, and companies say shifting supply‑chains has become more difficult. 

Why it matters:
The case highlights a major constitutional question: to what extent can a U.S. president impose broad tariffs without new legislation from Congress? The outcome could reshape U.S. trade policy for years and influence global supply‑chains. Moreover, for the Trump administration, tariffs have become central to economic strategy and foreign‑policy leverage.

What’s next:
While the Supreme Court takes up the case, the tariffs remain in place. The administration is reportedly preparing fallback legal paths to preserve them even if the IEEPA argument fails. Watch for further rulings, appeals, and legislative backlash.