Image Credentials: Image Title: Trump Hikes Global Tariffs to 15% Following Supreme Court Setback Source: (sora.openai) Date: Feb 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
Saturday, February 21, 2026
WASHINGTON — In a defiant response to a major judicial check on his executive power, President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will raise proposed global tariffs from 10 percent to 15 percent. The move comes less than 24 hours after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his administration’s previous, more expansive tariff program.
Taking to social media on Saturday morning, the President characterized the 6-3 Supreme Court ruling as “ridiculous” and “extraordinarily anti-American.” The court had ruled on Friday that the administration exceeded its authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to bypass Congress and unilaterally impose broad taxes on nearly all imported goods.
Undeterred by the ruling, the White House has pivoted to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This alternative legal pathway allows the President to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15 percent for a period of 150 days to address large U.S. balance-of-payments deficits. While this authority is more limited in duration and scope than the emergency powers previously invoked, it allows the administration to maintain its “America First” trade pressure while searching for more permanent legal standing.
“I am, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” the President wrote. He argued the increase was necessary to combat countries that have been “ripping off” the United States for decades.
The new 15 percent levy is scheduled to take effect this Tuesday, coinciding with the President’s State of the Union address.
Economists and trade experts remain skeptical of the strategy. While the administration argues that tariffs will revitalize domestic manufacturing and provide a new revenue stream to replace income taxes, critics point to rising consumer costs and the threat of international retaliation. Retailers have already warned that the jump from 10 to 15 percent will likely be passed directly to consumers in the form of higher prices for electronics, clothing, and groceries.
Congressional reaction has been split. While some Republican allies praised the President’s resolve, others expressed concern over the 150-day deadline. Under Section 122, the tariffs will expire unless Congress votes to extend them, a prospect that remains uncertain as public polls show growing frustration with inflation.
As the Tuesday deadline approaches, global markets are bracing for a fresh wave of volatility. The White House has signaled that this is only the beginning, stating that the administration will continue to investigate “legally permissible” ways to impose specific duties on a country-by-country basis over the coming months.