Furious Trump signs global 10% duty after supreme court issues tariff blow | Donald Trump
Donald Trump on Friday denounced the Supreme Court justices who blocked his use of tariffs, calling the decision a “disgrace to the nation”, and then signed documents imposing 10% tariffs on all countries.
Trump said he would immediately sign an order raising global tariffs by 10% under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and would open investigations into unfair trade practices allowing new tariffs. He claimed he had the authority to impose additional tariffs under existing laws without Congressional approval.
On Friday evening, Trump posted on Truth Social: “It is my great honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a 10% global tariff on all countries, which will take effect almost immediately. »
The temporary import duty will take effect on February 24 at 12:01 p.m. ET.
Minutes later, the White House released a fact sheet explaining that Trump had signed a proclamation “invoking his authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974” to impose “a temporary import duty.”
The Congressional Research Service, which provides legislative research and analysis to lawmakers, explained that: “Section 122 of the Commerce Act of 1974 directs the President to take actions that may include a temporary import surcharge (tariff) when necessary to remedy ‘large and serious deficits in the balance of payments of the United States’ or certain other situations that present ‘fundamental problems in international payments.’ Section 122 has never been used and therefore the courts have not had the opportunity to interpret its wording. Some news reports have noted that this provision appears to authorize the president to impose across-the-board tariffs on imports in certain circumstances.
The law, however, imposes limits on these tariffs, which can be imposed by the president for “a period not exceeding 150 days”, and must “not exceed 15 percent”.
Canada and Mexico will be exempt from this new temporary duty, in accordance with the North American trade agreement, the White House announced. Also exempt are certain food products, such as beef and tomatoes, as well as essential minerals.
“I wanted to be a good kid,” Trump said, describing his relative restraint in imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump said tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 would remain “in place and in full force and effect.”
During his speech at the White House, Trump said: “In my opinion, the Court has been influenced by foreign interests and by a much smaller political movement than people might imagine. He characterized this influence as social and cultural, saying: “I am ashamed of some members of the Court. Absolutely ashamed that they do not have the courage to do what is right for our country.”
He praised the three justices dissenting in the opinion: Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote the main dissent, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The others — including two of his appointees, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch — drew his derision.
“They are nothing but fools and lapdogs to the Rinos. [“Republicans in name only”] “They are very unpatriotic and disloyal to our constitution.”
Referring to Barrett and Gorsuch, he described them as “an embarrassment to their families” and said they were “barely” invited to next week’s State of the Union address.
When asked for evidence of foreign influence on the Supreme Court, Trump responded, “You’re going to find out.” »
Robert Mackey contributed reporting
