Trump Raises Tariffs to 15% After Supreme Court Loss

By John Zurcher
Published: February 22, 2026 10:45 PM EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on goods coming into the United States from 10 percent to 15 percent. The move comes just one day after the Supreme Court ruled that his earlier tariff plans were against the law.

Trump made the announcement Saturday on his Truth Social platform. He called the court’s decision from Friday “ridiculous” and “anti-American.”

The new 15 percent tax applies to almost all countries. It started immediately.

This is the latest turn in a trade war that has caused confusion for businesses and leaders around the world. The fight is now moving to the courts and could reshape how America handles trade for years to come.

Supreme Court Ruling

On Friday, the Supreme Court dealt a major blow to the president. By a vote of 6 to 3, the justices said Trump did not have the power to set tariffs by himself.

The court said that the Constitution gives the power to tax to Congress, not the president. The ruling struck down tariffs that Trump had placed on nearly every country using a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Trump did not take the ruling well. At a news conference Friday, he called the majority justices “fools and lapdogs.” He said they were an “embarrassment to their families.”

Right after that ruling, Trump signed a new executive order. This time, he used a different law: Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. That law lets a president place tariffs of up to 15 percent for 150 days. After that, Congress must agree to extend them.

No president has ever used this law before. Experts say it could lead to more legal battles.

What Happens to the $133 Billion?

The big question now is what happens to the money that has already been collected.

The Trump administration has gathered an estimated $133 billion from the tariffs that were just ruled unlawful. Importers in the U.S. paid these taxes, and now they want their money back.

More than 1,000 lawsuits have already been filed by companies seeking refunds. Lawyers expect many more cases in the coming weeks.

John Diamond, an expert at Rice University, said the companies will likely win their cases. But he warned that smaller businesses may have a hard time getting through the legal system.

“The real mess is for foreign governments,” Diamond said. Countries that signed trade deals with the U.S. are now looking at a totally different situation.

For example, Taiwan and the U.K. both signed deals with the U.S. that set certain tax rates. Now, those deals are being turned upside down by the new 15 percent tariff.

Global Reaction

Around the world, leaders are trying to figure out what this means for them.

Some countries may end up paying less. Brazil, which did not sign a deal with the U.S., was facing a 40 percent tariff. Now, it drops to 15 percent, at least for now.

Other countries are frustrated. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he will work with European leaders before meeting with Trump next month. Hong Kong’s financial secretary called the situation a “fiasco.”

Trump’s trade representative, Jamieson Greer, told Fox News that countries must still honor the deals they signed, even if the new rate is lower. That has added to the confusion.

Political Fallout at Home

The tariff fight is also causing problems for Trump at home.

The November midterm elections are getting closer. Democrats need to flip only three Republican seats in the House to win control. They are using the tariffs to attack the president.

Polls show that Americans are not happy with Trump’s handling of the economy. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week found that only 34 percent of people approve of his work on the economy. Fifty-seven percent said they do not approve.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee posted on social media Saturday that Trump is “pickpocketing the American people.” They said he is doing anything he can to raise costs for regular families.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who often fights with Trump, also spoke out. He said the president “does not care about you.”

What Comes Next

For now, the 15 percent tariff is the law of the land. But it can only last 150 days unless Congress steps in.

Trump has said his team will work on other tariffs that are legal. He wants to use laws that allow taxes on specific products or countries for national security reasons.

Businesses are watching closely. Many are filing for refunds on the money they already paid. But experts say it could take years for the courts to sort everything out.

For the average American, this could mean higher prices on goods from overseas. It could also mean more uncertainty as the government and the courts keep fighting over who has the power to tax.

Trump remains firm in his belief that tariffs are the key to his “Make America Great Again” agenda. But with the courts pushing back and voters getting worried, the road ahead looks rocky.