SCOTUS Kills Trump Tariffs, President Unleashes Defiant Rant

Supreme Court Trump tariff ruling may unleash a temporary global trade uncertainty and unsettle US politics 

By MANISH ANAND

New Delhi, February 21, 2026 — The Supreme Court of America has brought order back normalcy in global trade — after trashing Trump tariffs and affirming primacy of the Congress authorisation. India and other nations now will face just 10 percent tariffs per new announcement by US President Donald Trump. The US will also now have to address the issue of refund — almost $185 that needs to be paid back to importers.

Will the global trade become normal soon? The answer is a clear no per American experts. They’ve argued that the Trump administration had braced for an adverse Supreme Court ruling, and thus deliberated on a Plan B.

What happens to trade deals announced by Trump with several nations? The answer is that the countries will honour their commitments with Trump. This will be done simply for the reason that the nations will prefer to see off Trump’s remaining tenure and not antagonize him.

American experts have argued that the US is now heading for a long, drawn-out standoff in legislating approvals for Trump tariffs. This was suggested as Trump accused the Supreme Court judges of giving the verdict under “foreign influence.” “I don’t have evidence, but I will find them out,” Trump said when he was asked if he could substantiate his claims.

Will China heave a sigh of relief? The answer is no per American commentators. Trump will intensify trade war with other means — launching investigations and imposing sanctions. The trade war is here to stay as Trump seeks to monetize his tariff policy in the US politics.

Trumpian rhetoric on economic nationalism is now at the center stage of Republican politics. Trump may bank on rhetoric and deflection by triggering global trade chaos to deal with deteriorating domestic challenges at home — a two-track economy with concentration of wealth in a fraction of the population.

American politics may now enter a phase of more upheavals. The Trump camp had for past one year been already harping on claims that the Democrats are weaponizing courts against the US President. The Supreme Court of America Trump tariff ruling may be seen a culmination of adverse court rulings against decisions of the incumbent administration.

But Trump per American commentators now faces real political heat at home. If the whole tariff edifice crumbles, the upcoming US Mid-Term elections may test the Republicans. The anger on the street against alleged excesses of ICE federal agents is building up an anti-Trump narrative. A tariff-led economic chaos at home may unsettle Trump’s top talking point — a booming American economy.

Supreme Justice Neil Gorsuch Draws Red Line in Tariff Verdict

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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