President Trump said Friday he is deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a major swath of his tariff plan, saying it would put the U.S. at a disadvantage as he tries to recalibrate trade.
However, Mr. Trump said he is already turning the page, ordering up a 10% global tariff under Section 122 authorities that allow presidents to establish a baseline tariff to close trade deficits.
“We’re going forward. We’ll be able to take in more money,” Mr. Trump said.
Section 122 tariffs are temporary, lasting no more than 150 days unless extended by Congress.
Mr. Trump said his administration is conducting probes under other authorities to impose tariffs for national security purposes or to correct trade imbalances.
The justices ruled 6-3 that Mr. Trump overstepped by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose blanket tariffs on individual nations.
SEE ALSO: Supreme Court rules Trump’s tariffs illegal
“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country,” Mr. Trump said at a White House press briefing.
Mr. Trump praised members of the conservative wing, justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh, for siding with him and harshly criticized the liberal wing as automatic “no” votes.
He praised the liberals for their consistency, however — a de facto swipe at conservatives on the court who bucked him.
Mr. Trump last year imposed tariffs on foreign goods ranging from 10% to 50%, depending on the country.
Small businesses and blue states said he unlawfully relied on IEEPA to impose those tariffs, and won before the Supreme Court.
Mr. Trump said foreign trading partners are probably celebrating the ruling. However, he said the administration has “alternatives” at its disposal, such as the authorities it used to impose tariffs on imported steel.
“They’re dancing in the streets,” Mr. Trump said of trading rivals. “But they won’t be dancing for long.”
Mr. Trump complained about the nature of the decision.
Under the ruling, Mr. Trump said, he could cut off trade with another nation but cannot charge them a single dollar under IEEPA — a 1977 law that authorized presidents to take certain actions around international commerce.
At the same time, Mr. Trump seemed to suggest he would have been better off using non-IEEPA authorities in the first place.
“Now, I’ll go the way I could have gone originally,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s a little bit longer process. I thought I’d make things simple, but they didn’t let us do that.”
The justices ruled 6-3 that Mr. Trump overstepped by invoking the IEEPA to impose blanket tariffs on individual nations.
“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country,” Mr. Trump said at a White House press briefing.
Mr. Trump praised members of the conservative wing, Justices Samuel A. Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett M. Kavanaugh, for siding with him and harshly criticized the liberal wing as automatic “no” votes.
He praised the liberals for their consistency, however — a de facto swipe at conservatives on the court who bucked him.
Mr. Trump last year imposed tariffs on foreign goods ranging from 10% to 50%, depending on the country.
Small businesses and blue states said he unlawfully relied on IEEPA to impose those tariffs, and won before the Supreme Court.
Mr. Trump said foreign trading partners are probably celebrating the ruling. However, he said the administration has “alternatives” at its disposal, such as the authorities it used to impose tariffs on imported steel.
“They’re dancing in the streets,” Mr. Trump said of trading rivals. “But they won’t be dancing for long.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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