B Mirror Report: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has signed an executive order imposing a new 10% global tariff, replacing the previously struck-down counter-tariffs. This move came just hours after the Supreme Court declared most of his earlier tariffs illegal.
In a social media post on Friday evening, Trump confirmed that he signed the executive order from the Oval Office and stated that the order would take effect “almost immediately.”
Earlier on Friday, Trump had hinted at an alternative tariff plan under a different legal authority. He had sharply criticized the Supreme Court’s decision as “extremely disappointing” and “horrible.”
At a White House briefing, Trump told reporters: “Where the court has inadvertently struck down certain decisions, we will now use other alternatives. We have alternatives—great alternatives. This may even generate more revenue. We will collect more money and become much stronger.”
A White House official said that the new 10% global tariff will also apply to countries that already have trade agreements with the United States. These countries will now pay a global 10% tariff under Section 122 instead of the tariff rates specified in their agreements.
The official added that countries subject to the 10% tariff include the United Kingdom, India, Japan, and the European Union, though the list does not end there.
As a result, many existing agreements will now carry lower tariffs than before. For example, previous trade deals had set tariffs of 15% on Japan and 18% on India.
The official further noted that the Trump administration expects countries under these trade agreements to comply with the concessions they had agreed to.
Among the nine Supreme Court justices, six voted to declare Trump’s counter-tariffs illegal, saying the President had exceeded his authority.
The ruling is a major victory for anti-tariff businesses and U.S. states, raising the possibility of recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in previously paid tariffs. However, it also introduces new uncertainty into global trade.
In a statement from the White House on Friday, Trump indicated that the money would not be refunded without legal battles, and he expects protracted court proceedings that could last years.
The U.S. President also said he would use other legal authorities to advance his tariff policy, arguing that tariffs help increase investment and production in the United States.
The legal battle primarily centered on import tariffs imposed on products from nearly every country in the world. Initially, the tariffs targeted Mexico, Canada, and China. In April last year, Trump expanded the tariffs to a dozen more trade partners.
The White House had cited the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), claiming it gave the President authority to “control” trade in emergencies.
However, the move sparked strong backlash both domestically and internationally. Companies suddenly facing higher duties protested, and concerns grew that the tariffs could drive up prices for consumers.
Last year, when states and small businesses presented arguments in court, their lawyers pointed out that the law Trump had used to impose tariffs did not even mention the word “tariff.” They argued that Congress had not intended to delegate its taxing power to the President or give him unlimited authority to override existing trade agreements and tariff rules.
Chief Justice John Roberts, known as a conservative, sided with this argument in his opinion. The decision to strike down the tariffs was joined by three liberal justices and two of Trump’s appointees Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch. Three conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Samuel Alito dissented.
At the White House, Trump expressed strong disapproval of Republican-appointed justices who voted against his trade policy, saying he was “extremely embarrassed” that they failed to do what he saw as right for the country.
He added that foreign nations that had “cheated us for years” were now celebrating and “dancing in the streets,” though he assured that “they won’t be dancing for long.”
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Wall Street stocks rose, with the S&P 500 index climbing nearly 0.7% by the close of trading.
However, hopes for tariff relief and refunds may ultimately remain unfulfilled. On Friday, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a new 10% tariff under the long-unused Section 122, which allows tariffs up to 15% for 150 days before Congress must take action. The new tariffs will take effect on February 24.
The executive order includes exemptions for certain goods, such as specific minerals, natural resources, fertilizers, some agricultural products like oranges and beef, pharmaceuticals, certain electronics, and some vehicles. However, the exact list of exempt products has not been specified.
Under the North American trade agreement USMCA, Canada and Mexico will continue to enjoy tariff exemptions on most of their products.
Analysts expect the White House may also consider using other authorities, such as Sections 232 and 301, which allow tariffs for national security risks or unfair trade practices. Trump has previously used these powers to impose tariffs on sectors like steel, aluminum, and automobiles. These existing tariffs remain unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling.
