Following the Supreme Court's invalidation of his IEEPA tariffs, President Trump threatened trading partners with steeper duties under alternative legal authorities, while imposing a 15% emergency import tax and launching fresh trade investigations — throwing global trade negotiations into disarray.
President Donald Trump warned, on Monday, 23 February 2026, that countries reconsidering recently negotiated US trade agreements would face significantly higher tariffs under alternative trade laws, following the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate his emergency global tariffs.
On 20 February 2026, the US Supreme Court, in a 6–3 decision in *Learning Resources v. Trump*, held that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA).
Trump indicated he might impose license fees on trading partners while claiming the court’s ruling actually affirmed his authority to levy tariffs through other legal mechanisms “in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty.” However, he provided no specifics on the proposed license fees.
“Any Country that wants to ‘play games’ with the ridiculous Supreme Court decision, especially those that have ‘Ripped Off’ the U.S.A. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to. BUYER BEWARE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The European Parliament postponed voting on its US trade deal on Monday after Trump implemented a temporary 15% import duty on all countries. Initially announced at 10% on Friday under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, Trump raised the rate to its statutory maximum of 15% on 21 February 2026.
Trade deal prospects remain unclear, with China demanding the US abandon tariff measures, the EU freezing approval, and India postponing scheduled discussions.
US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer also announced plans to launch new Section 301 investigations into unfair trade practices by several countries, potentially enabling additional tariff threats.
