Donald Trump responds with new tariffs to the Supreme Court , which yesterday overturned the customs tariffs.

“It is a great honor to have just signed, in the Oval Office, new 10% global tariffs on all countries that will take effect almost immediately ,” the US president wrote on his social media account Truth.

The tariffs will take effect at midnight on February 24 and remain in place for 150 days: they will not apply to a wide range of products, including essential minerals and goods already subject to separate duties unaffected by the Supreme Court decision.

The new tariffs, Trump explained in a briefing, were ordered under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. They will partially replace those under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, which the Supreme Court had declared illegal, writing in its ruling that that law does not give the president the power to impose tariffs without Congressional approval.

Trump lashed out at the Supreme Court justices who voted against the tariffs, particularly the three conservatives (two of whom he appointed): " They should be ashamed . What happened today with the two US Supreme Court justices I appointed against strong opposition, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, never seems to happen with Democrats. They vote against Republicans, and never against themselves, almost every time, no matter how good our arguments . At least I didn't appoint Roberts (the chief justice of the Court, also a conservative but appointed by George W. Bush, ed.), who has led the effort to allow foreign countries that have defrauded us for years to continue doing so." These justices, Donald Trump called "foolish and subservient to foreign interests."

Tariffs, the White House says, will continue to be an "essential tool to protect American businesses and workers, reduce costs, and raise wages." And the "disappointing Supreme Court decision will not prevent the president from reshaping the distorted global trading system that has put the country's economic and national security at risk."

The Court's axe did not affect the sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles, adopted under the Trade Expansion Act for national security reasons. Those imposed on China under the same Unfair Trade Practices Act also remain in place.

The Supreme Court ruling also opened the door to potential damages of as much as $133 billion . The justices did not rule on exactly what the government should do with the money raised from the tariffs, leaving the matter to be decided by lower courts.

And Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker sent Trump an $8.6 billion bill detailing the damages his fellow citizens have suffered as a result of the tariffs. "Your tariffs have devastated farmers, infuriated our allies, and sent food prices skyrocketing. This morning, your personally appointed Supreme Court justices notified you that they, too, are unconstitutional. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I demand $1,700 in reimbursement for every Illinois family. There are 5,105,448 families in my state, bringing the total damages you owe to $8,679,261,600 ."

His Californian counterpart Gavin Newsom is ready to follow suit: «For over a year, Donald Trump has been illegally taxing food, furniture and cars, it's time to ask for a refund» .

(Unioneonline/L)

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