US Trade Chief Insists Tariff Policy Unchanged Despite Supreme Court Ruling
Top US trade negotiator Jamieson Greer has insisted that American tariff policy "hasn't changed" despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling that declared many of Donald Trump's tariffs illegal. Speaking on Sunday, just two days after the court's decision, Greer emphasized continuity in the administration's economic approach while acknowledging legal adjustments.
Supreme Court Delivers Sharp Rebuke to Trump Administration
The Supreme Court issued a significant ruling on Friday that represented a sharp rebuke to the Republican president, toppling a key pillar of his aggressive economic agenda. In a 6-3 decision, with three conservative-leaning justices dissenting, the court determined that a 1977 law designed to address national emergencies did not provide legal justification for most of the Trump administration's tariffs.
"The policy hasn't changed. The legal tools that implement that may change but the policy hasn't changed," Greer told ABC News' Sunday politics show This Week. He argued that the current approach gives US businesses "a lot of leverage" in world trade despite public disapproval, with an ABC/Washington Post/Ipsos poll showing 64% of Americans surveyed disapproved of tariffs as an economic strategy.
New Global Tariffs Announced Following Court Decision
In response to the Supreme Court ruling, President Trump announced a new 15% global tariff on all foreign imports on Saturday, up from 10% announced on Friday immediately after the court decision. This tariff was devised under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, utilizing a different legal framework than the one investigated by the Supreme Court.
Greer clarified that these new tariffs are distinct from bilateral agreements struck over the last nine months with approximately 20 countries, including the UK, EU, Japan, and Switzerland. "We want them to understand these deals are going to be good deals," Greer said in a separate interview with CBS. "We're going to stand by them. We expect our partners to stand by them."
Constitutional Questions and Congressional Authority
The Supreme Court's majority opinion emphasized that the ability to enact tariffs during peacetime properly belongs to Congress, which holds sole constitutional authority to levy taxes. President Trump had argued he had the right to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants presidential authority to regulate international transactions during national emergencies.
Greer indicated the administration would not automatically seek congressional authorization for the new tariffs, which are destined to expire within five months without it. He also stated that the administration would leave the issue of refunds for previously imposed tariffs to the Court of International Trade, noting the Supreme Court had "created a situation where they struck down the tariffs and gave zero guidance on this."
Political Reactions and Economic Criticism
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, called the ruling a victory for American consumers and an example of how Trump's "overreach failed." He added: "A president cannot ignore Congress and unilaterally slap tariffs on Americans ... Now Trump should end this reckless trade war for good and finally give families and small businesses the relief they deserve."
California Governor Gavin Newsom offered particularly harsh criticism on CNN, describing Trump's tariff policy as "a farce" and saying "the whole thing is a farce." He characterized the administration's approach as "madness" and "petulance," adding: "He's flailing. He's a punch-drunk boxer. He's just trying to hit anything, even his shadow."
Administration Remains Committed to Economic Goals
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced the administration's commitment to its economic objectives despite the legal setback. "The president and the administration remain undeterred on re-shoring American factories and getting rid of massive trade imbalances," Bessent told CNN's State of the Union. "That's the big story here. We're immediately going to go to Section 122 tariffs and the revenue projections for the US treasury for 2026 are unchanged."
Greer conceded in his CBS interview that the administration would have less flexibility in imposing emergency tariffs of the type knocked down by the court as an inappropriate use of emergency powers. However, he maintained that the fundamental policy direction would continue unchanged, emphasizing continuity for American businesses navigating international trade relationships.
