Trump's new tariffs increase to 15%: U.S. government’s "overreach" tariffs trigger a wave of lawsuits from businesses

On February 20th, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government’s large-scale tariff policies were “exceeding authority.” Immediately following, President Trump issued a new executive order, announcing that starting February 24, 2026, a 10% import tariff will be imposed on goods from all countries and regions.

On the 21st, Trump announced that the new “global import tariff” rate would be increased from 10% to 15%. Meanwhile, the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling is also becoming evident. As of the 21st, hundreds of companies have filed lawsuits seeking refunds of tariffs paid under Trump’s previous tariff policies.

One Day After Imposing the “Global Import Tariff,” Trump Announces Increase to 15%

On February 21, U.S. time, President Trump posted on his social platform “Truth Social” that he would raise the previously announced 10% import tariff on global goods to 15.

△Trump announced on social media that the “global import tariff” rate would be increased from 10% to 15%.

In his statement, Trump said, “After a comprehensive, detailed, and complete review of the Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs made on the 20th—an absurd, poorly worded, and extremely anti-American ruling—from today, the current 10% uniform tariff on global countries will be raised to the fully permitted and legally validated 15% level.”

Trump stated that over the coming months, the U.S. government will determine and announce new, legally permissible tariff measures.

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Tariff Policy as “Exceeding Authority” — Trump Moves to Issue New Regulations Based on Other Laws

On February 20, U.S. time, the Supreme Court ruled that the large-scale tariffs implemented by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act lacked clear legal authorization.

That day, the Supreme Court upheld lower court decisions with a 6-3 vote, ruling that Trump’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement tariffs exceeded his statutory authority. This decision was made in lawsuits filed by companies and 12 U.S. states, which argued that Trump’s unilateral imposition of import taxes based on this law was unprecedented.

However, the Supreme Court’s ruling only limits the president from using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement tariffs and does not completely strip him of tariff-levying authority. After the ruling was announced, Trump shifted to issuing a new “global import tariff” under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, setting the rate at 10% for 150 days, to replace the tariffs deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court.

Hundreds of Companies Sue for Refunds

On the same day, as Trump announced the increase of the “global import tariff” rate from 10% to 15%, the impact of the Supreme Court’s previous ruling on Trump’s tariff policies was also spreading.

As of the 21st, hundreds of companies, including major retailer Costco, have filed lawsuits demanding refunds of tariffs paid under the tariffs declared “exceeding authority” by the Supreme Court.

According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection in December last year, tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act totaled approximately $130 billion. A University of Pennsylvania estimate suggests this may now exceed $175 billion.

Economists note that the process for companies to apply for refunds of paid tariffs is still unclear, but those eligible for refunds are not the only groups bearing the economic burden of Trump’s tariffs.

“Exceeding Authority” Tariffs Create Massive “Confusing Accounts” — Trump: “It Might Take Five Years of Litigation”

Additionally, some analysts believe that the tariffs declared “exceeding authority” have already created a large-scale “confusing account.” Data shows that the costs associated with tariffs are almost entirely paid by U.S. domestic companies and consumers. Economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York analyzed import data up to November last year and found that nearly 90% of the economic costs related to tariffs fall on U.S. businesses and their customers. However, in reality, ordinary consumers cannot prove how much of the tariffs they have borne and thus are not eligible for refunds. Many small businesses, in order to maintain market share, did not fully pass the tariffs onto consumers, making this accounting impossible to clarify now.

Therefore, with the Supreme Court having issued a clear ruling, legal challenges regarding Trump’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement tariffs will become more numerous and complex.

Trump himself acknowledged on the day he announced the new tariff policy that the Supreme Court’s ruling would trigger a prolonged legal battle, and that it might “take five years of litigation” to determine whether the federal government must refund tariffs to U.S. companies.

Source: CCTV News

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