While the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling struck a significant blow to President Trump’s broad tariff authority, it did nothing to touch the industry-specific levies that have long targeted American trading partners in steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles. On Saturday, Trump made those boundaries clear as he announced a new 15% universal tariff under a separate legal authority.
Sector-specific tariffs imposed under a different US law remain completely unaffected by the court’s 6-3 ruling, which struck down only the IEEPA-based tariffs Trump had introduced last year. The steel, aluminum, lumber, and auto tariffs — long a flashpoint in US trade relations — continue at their existing rates regardless of the judicial setback.
Trump’s announcement of the new 15% rate, made on Truth Social, relies on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows a president to impose tariffs up to 15% for up to 150 days without congressional approval. He described the provision as legally validated and immediately effective. His administration plans to use the 150-day period to develop permanent, court-proof tariff mechanisms.
European leaders pressed for greater predictability. Germany’s Chancellor Merz called ongoing tariff uncertainty “the biggest poison” for both European and American economies and announced plans to travel to Washington with a coordinated EU position. France’s Macron defended the principle of democratic checks and emphasized reciprocity as the only fair basis for trade.
American businesses have absorbed roughly 90% of the more than $130 billion collected in tariffs under the now-invalidated IEEPA framework. Business groups are calling for refunds, but Trump signaled those would require a lengthy legal battle. Exemptions to the new 15% rate include critical minerals, metals, pharmaceuticals, and USMCA-compliant goods from Canada and Mexico.