Trump’s Trade War Faces Supreme Court Showdown

What could be the defining battle of Donald Trump’s trade war heads to the U.S. Supreme Court this Wednesday.

The Trump administration will defend the legality of sweeping global tariffs it imposed earlier this year – a move small businesses and several states argue was unconstitutional.

If the court sides with the challengers, it could dismantle Trump’s trade strategy and force Washington to refund billions collected from import taxes.

The verdict, expected months from now, could redraw the limits of presidential power in economic policy.

Trump has cast the case as a test of national strength. “A loss would tie my hands in trade negotiations and imperil national security,” he warned.

While choosing not to attend the hearing, Trump said, “It’s not about me, it’s about our country.”

For many businesses, the costs have already hit hard.

Learning Resources, a U.S. toy seller, expects to pay $14 million in tariffs this year—seven times more than in 2024. “They’ve thrown our business into unbelievable disruption,” said CEO Rick Woldenberg.

Others, like Georgia-based Cooperative Coffees, are less optimistic but hopeful.

“We’re preparing for the worst,” said co-founder Bill Harris, whose company has already paid $1.3 million since April.

At the heart of the case lies a broader constitutional question, How far can a president go under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act?

Trump used the 1977 law to justify tariffs of up to 50% on imports, declaring the U.S. trade deficit an “extraordinary and unusual threat.”

The Supreme Court’s decision will not only determine the fate of Trump’s tariffs -it may redefine the reach of presidential authority in America’s global trade battles. Agencies