Fate of Trump's Tariffs Hangs on Supreme Court Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release one or more major opinions as soon as Friday, with a landmark case on the legality of President Donald Trump's global tariffs topping the list of pending decisions. The court does not announce in advance which rulings it will issue when it takes the bench at 10 a.m. ET.

This case represents a critical test of presidential power and the court's willingness to limit the executive branch's authority. The decision will have significant consequences for the global economy and Trump's far-reaching policies since he returned to office in January 2025.

The Legal Battle Over Emergency Powers

At the heart of the legal challenge is Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a 1977 law designed for national emergencies. The administration invoked the act to impose "reciprocal" tariffs on goods from nearly every U.S. trading partner, framing the nation's trade deficits as a national emergency.

A separate justification under the same law was used for tariffs on products from China, Canada, and Mexico, with the administration citing the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States as a national emergency.

During oral arguments on November 5, both conservative and liberal justices expressed skepticism about the administration's broad application of the law. The Trump administration is appealing lower court decisions that found the president had overstepped his authority.

President Trump has consistently defended the tariffs, claiming they have strengthened the U.S. financially. In a January 2 social media post, he warned that a Supreme Court ruling against the measures would be a "terrible blow" to the country.

The legal challenges were initiated by a coalition of businesses impacted by the tariffs and 12 U.S. states, most of which are governed by Democrats.

Other Major Cases Awaiting Rulings

Beyond the tariff dispute, the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, is also set to rule on several other significant issues. These pending cases include:

• Voting Rights: A challenge to a key section of the Voting Rights Act, the landmark 1965 federal law enacted to prevent racial discrimination in voting.

• Free Speech: A case challenging a Colorado law that bans psychotherapists from conducting "conversion therapy" aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of an LGBTQ minor.