Overview
- The justices are hearing arguments this week after lower courts ruled the IEEPA does not authorize these tariffs but allowed them to remain in effect.
- The White House and Justice Department argue the measures are lawful under the president’s foreign‑affairs authority, with spokesperson Kush Desai asserting Trump acted within the statute.
- Trump has imposed or threatened tariffs for non‑trade aims, including a 10% move against Canada over an Ontario ad, a 50% rate on Brazil linked to the Bolsonaro prosecution, a 50% levy on India tied to Russian oil purchases, and measures targeting Colombia and South Africa.
- The European Union accepted roughly 15% tariff levels after talks that it pursued to secure U.S. backing for NATO and assurances for Ukraine.
- A ruling curbing IEEPA use could force slower legal pathways and alter U.S. bargaining power, as partners report fallout such as a sharp drop in Brazilian specialty‑coffee exports and IMF warnings of broader slowdown risks.