On February 20, President Donald Trump swiftly replaced tariffs that were invalidated by the Supreme Court with a temporary 10% global tariff applicable to all countries for a period of 150 days. This announcement was made public via a statement from the White House.
The new tariffs will take effect on February 24 and maintain exemptions for aerospace products, passenger vehicles, and certain light trucks, as well as goods from Mexico and Canada that meet the criteria of their trade agreements with the U.S., pharmaceuticals, and specific essential minerals and agricultural products.
The recent directives prohibit the collection of tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court on the same day. However, the Trump administration is not abandoning the concept of global tariffs.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized in comments to Fox News that for national security and revenue, “nothing has changed.” He stated,
“We will revert to the same level of tariffs for these countries. It will just be done in a less direct and somewhat more convoluted manner.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling on February 20 found Trump’s global tariffs on imports from other countries, implemented under emergency legislation, to be unlawful. Trump referred to the Supreme Court’s decision as a “disgrace,” asserting that he has a backup plan. He indicated that he aimed to undertake a “very important task” when he initiated tariffs on imports and noted that the court only prohibited one method of imposing tariffs, suggesting he would utilize others.
Background on Trump’s Tariffs
On April 2, Trump announced tariffs on products from 185 countries and territories, establishing a minimum tariff rate of 10% on imported goods. Specifically, a 20% tariff was set for goods from the European Union, while the rate for China was set at 34%. Individual tariffs were designated for certain countries.
Additionally, starting April 3, the U.S. administration imposed a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Economy commented that the 10% tariff for Ukraine is “difficult but not critical.”
In response to the U.S. tariffs, China announced tariffs on all American imports set at 34%, effective April 10.
On April 9, Trump stated that the U.S. would increase tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, up from the previous rate of 104%.
In retaliation, China imposed an additional 84% tariff on U.S. imports.
By April 10, the White House reported that the effective tariff rate on Chinese imports had reached 145%. Trump’s latest order raised tariffs for China to 125%, in addition to a previous 20% tariff on fentanyl.
On July 12, Trump announced 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the EU, set to begin on August 1.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded to Trump’s decision, stating that the 30% tariff on EU exports would harm businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
On September 5, Trump signed an order to reduce tariffs on Japanese vehicles to 15%.
On September 25, Trump announced a new wave of tariffs, including a 100% tariff on imported branded medicines unless companies establish manufacturing plants in the U.S. Washington also planned to impose a 25% tariff on all heavy trucks and a 50% tariff on kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
On October 6, Trump announced a 25% tariff for medium and large trucks, effective November 1, 2025.
President Trump has introduced a temporary 10% global tariff following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated previous tariffs. The new tariffs will take effect on February 24 and maintain certain exemptions, while the administration emphasizes the importance of tariffs for national security and economic interests.