President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will raise the global tariff rate to 15%, the maximum allowed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, following a Supreme Court ruling that limited his use of emergency powers to impose tariffs.
“Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs … I … will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff … to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement follows Friday’s 6–3 Supreme Court decision holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to impose tariffs, as previously reported by The Dallas Express in 6-3 Ruling: Supreme Court Rules IEEPA Does Not Allow President To Impose Tariffs.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that IEEPA “contains no reference to tariffs or duties,” concluding that the statute does not permit the executive branch to raise revenue under emergency authority.
Court Closed One Door — Others Remain
The ruling limited the use of IEEPA but did not eliminate presidential tariff authority altogether.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in dissent, noted that several other statutes authorize tariff action, including Sections 122, 232, and 301.
Within hours of the ruling, Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — a statute that allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days to address balance-of-payments concerns.
The White House confirmed a 10% temporary global duty on February 20. The 15% rate announced Saturday would represent the statutory maximum under Section 122 without congressional action.
The temporary duty is capped at 150 days unless Congress extends or modifies the authority.
Bessent Signaled Legal Pivot In Dallas
Speaking Friday before the Economic Club of Dallas — where The Dallas Express was present — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected the characterization of the ruling as a defeat for the administration’s trade agenda.
“Let’s be clear about today’s ruling,” Bessent said. “Despite the misplaced gloating from Democrats, ill-informed media outlets, and the very people who gutted our industrial base, the Court did not rule against President Trump’s tariffs.”
“Six Justices simply ruled that IEEPA authorities cannot be used to raise even one dollar of revenue.”
“This Administration will invoke alternative legal authorities to replace the IEEPA tariffs,” he continued.
Bessent said the administration would leverage Sections 122, 232, and 301 of federal trade law — authorities that have previously survived legal challenges.
“Treasury’s estimates show that the use of Section 122 authority, combined with potentially enhanced Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026,” Bessent said.
Economic Security Framing
In his Dallas remarks, Bessent framed tariffs as part of a broader “economic security” strategy centered on reshoring domestic production, reducing supply chain vulnerabilities, and strengthening U.S. industrial capacity.
“For a nation to be economically secure, it must possess the productive capacity to withstand shocks, deter adversaries, and deliver rising prosperity to its citizens,” Bessent said.
The administration argues that long-running trade deficits and overseas manufacturing consolidation have weakened U.S. economic resilience — and that tariffs remain a central tool to rebalance trade relationships.
While the Supreme Court blocked tariffs imposed under emergency powers, the administration has signaled that its broader trade strategy remains intact.
The shift to Section 122 authority allows the White House to maintain global tariffs — now at 15% — within the bounds outlined by the Court.
