President Donald Trump said he will raise the across the board tariff on global imports to 15% from 10%. This move comes amid headlines reading Trump raises global tariffs to 15%. This escalates his trade push just a day after announcing the initial levy. Furthermore, Trump sharply criticized the US Supreme Court for ruling that his earlier tariff mechanism was unlawful. In fact, Trump raises global tariffs to 15% is expected to have widespread economic effects.
“I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” Trump wrote Saturday in a social media post.
The move follows a tense 24 hours in which the court determined that Trump overstepped his authority by relying on emergency powers to impose so called reciprocal tariffs. Within hours of that ruling on Friday, Trump introduced a 10% global duty on foreign goods. Moreover, Trump raises global tariffs to 15% marks a significant escalation in his trade approach. He did this in an effort to keep his broader trade strategy intact.
This new baseline tariff is being implemented under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. That is a provision that permits a president to impose temporary tariffs for up to 150 days without direct congressional approval. Gaining longer term authorization from lawmakers may be difficult. This is especially true given opposition from Democrats and some Republicans who have criticized aspects of Trump’s trade agenda.
The original 10% tariffs were set to take effect Feb. 24 at 12:01 a.m. Washington time, according to a White House fact sheet. Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address to Congress that same evening. His Saturday announcement did not clarify when the higher 15% rate would formally begin. Consequently, Trump raises global tariffs to 15% creates added uncertainty for affected importers.
On Friday, the Supreme Court voted 6 to 3 that Trump had acted illegally by invoking a decades old emergency statute to justify sweeping duties. Last April, he had cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on dozens of US trading partners.
The White House and the US Trade Representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump has said he intends to maintain a flat 10% global tariff while preserving existing duties introduced under Sections 301 and 232. Additionally, he directed the trade representative to initiate new Section 301 investigations on an accelerated schedule.
Such investigations require country specific probes and formal findings of unfair trade practices before tariffs can be imposed. They could ultimately replace the temporary baseline rate. Meanwhile, Trump is also considering duties of 15% to 30% on imported automobiles. He is maintaining exemptions for certain goods and agricultural products covered under a trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is also notable that Trump raises global tariffs to 15% as part of this broader policy shift.
“We expect these investigations to cover most major trading partners and to address areas of concern such as industrial excess capacity, forced labor, pharmaceutical pricing practices, discrimination against US technology companies and digital goods and services, digital services taxes, ocean pollution and practices related to the trade in seafood, rice, and other products,” Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement Friday.
The Supreme Court’s decision has also cast uncertainty over tariff revenue already collected. According to an analysis by Bloomberg, more than 1,500 companies had filed lawsuits in trade court ahead of the ruling.
The justices did not address whether importers are eligible for refunds, leaving that question to lower courts. The potential financial exposure could reach as much as $170 billion. This represents more than half of the revenue generated by Trump’s tariffs. Trump faulted the court for failing to provide clarity on that issue. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said tariff revenues are projected to remain largely unchanged in 2026 despite the legal setback.
