President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs faced intense scrutiny at the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a case with significant implications for his administration’s agenda and the global economy. A majority of justices, including several conservatives, questioned the White House’s justification for imposing import duties, which Trump argues are necessary to revive American manufacturing and address trade imbalances.
The tariffs, challenged by small businesses and several states, are seen as overreaching presidential authority, effectively acting as a tax. The Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, typically takes months to decide such matters. Still, many expect a quicker ruling due to the case’s importance as a test of expanded executive power.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, appointed by Trump, questioned whether it was justified to levy tariffs on numerous countries, including Spain and France, under national security concerns. She expressed doubt about why so many nations were included in the broad tariff policy.
If the court rules against the administration, billions collected through these tariffs might have to be refunded, a scenario Barrett described as potentially chaotic. Representing the White House at the hearing were Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S.
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