Trump says he’ll sign an executive order to enact a 10% global tariff

United States President Donald Trump today said he’ll sign an executive order that would impose a 10% global tariff as an alternative while pressing his trade policies by other means after the Supreme Court struck down his far-reaching global tariffs in a 6-3 decision on Friday.

Trump’s new tariffs would come under a law that restricts them to 150 days.

He made that announcement after lashing out at the Supreme Court for striking down much of his sweeping tariff infrastructure as an illegal use of emergency power, handing him a stinging loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda.

Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of justices who voted to strike down his tariffs and called the ruling “deeply disappointing.”

“Their decision is incorrect,” he said.

“But it doesn’t matter because we have very powerful alternatives.”

For months, the president has warned that if these tariffs were struck down, it would be a “disaster” for the country and it “would literally destroy the United States of America.”

But as he faced questions on Friday about the ruling, Trump repeatedly projected a sunny future for the US and dismissed the idea that the country would face ruin, as he predicted.

He said the ruling gave “certainty” and said “I think you’re going to see the country get much stronger because of it.”

Trump also said the alternative paths he will pursue to try to impose tariffs, while a much more drawn out process, will “get us more money. And I think it’s going to be great.”

Despite the rebuke from the Supreme Court, the president is scoffing at the need to get Congress involved in enacting tariff policy.

“I don’t have to,” Trump said when asked why wouldn’t he just work with lawmakers on tariffs.

“I have the right to do tariffs, and I’ve always had the right to do tariffs.”

The majority ruled that Congress has the power to write tax policy, which includes tariffs.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.