Major setback for Trump! US Supreme Court invalidates tariffs, citing constitutional overreach

The 6-3 decision, authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, emphasized that the Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the power to levy taxes and tariffs.

The Court noted that if Congress had intended to give the president such authority under IEEPA, it would have done so explicitly.

Joining Roberts in the majority were three liberal justices and three conservative justices, while Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito dissented, media reports said.

In April 2025, Trump announced “reciprocal” tariffs on imports from many countries, claiming they were essential to protect US economic security and address trade deficits.

Small businesses and several US states challenged the tariffs, arguing that the administration was turning emergency powers into a “blank cheque” for tariff-making.

By December 2025, the Treasury had collected over $133 billion from these tariffs, and the Congressional Budget Office estimated their long-term economic impact could reach $3 trillion over the next decade.

Companies like Costco have already filed lawsuits seeking refunds.

Legal experts say the ruling reinforces Congress’s exclusive authority to impose taxes and marks a significant limitation on presidential economic powers.

However, the administration may attempt to reimpose tariffs through other legal avenues in the future.