Trump Raises Tariffs to 15%, Ignites New Legal and Diplomatic Storm

President Trump escalated his trade war Saturday with the announcement of a 15% universal tariff on all imports, triggering a wave of legal uncertainty and diplomatic tension just one day after the Supreme Court ruled against his original tariff framework. The move signals Trump’s determination to press forward regardless of judicial obstacles.
The new tariff draws on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision that allows a 15% maximum rate for 150 days before Congress must weigh in. Trump characterized the move as legally sound and immediately effective, though analysts cautioned that this untested statute could face its own legal challenges in the courts.
Trump’s response to the Supreme Court ruling was nothing short of explosive. He called the 6-3 decision “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American,” and took aim at individual justices, particularly his own nominees. Barrett and Gorsuch bore the brunt of his criticism, while Kavanaugh, Thomas, and Alito were praised for their dissent.
Internationally, the development alarmed trade partners. Germany’s Friedrich Merz announced plans to bring a coordinated European position to Washington, warning that economic uncertainty was damaging businesses on both continents. France’s Macron used the moment to defend the judiciary’s role in democratic governance, calling it essential to limiting unchecked executive power.
The UK, which had separately negotiated a 10% tariff, now finds itself facing the 15% baseline like every other country. Business groups worldwide have warned the increase would harm trade, raise consumer costs, and slow global economic growth. Domestic US studies show that 90% of the tariffs already collected have been absorbed by American businesses and consumers — not foreign exporters.