Trump criticizes Supreme Court over tariff setback, vows tougher trade measures

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday denounced the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down his global tariffs, calling the ruling “very unfortunate” during his State of the Union address before lawmakers and several justices.

The high court’s decision, issued on Friday by the Supreme Court of the United States, found that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing sweeping duties on goods from multiple countries. Among those attending the joint session of Congress were Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both conservatives, as well as liberal Justice Elena Kagan. The trio joined a 6-3 majority in ruling against many of the tariffs.

Despite the setback, Trump signaled he would press ahead with his trade agenda. He argued that US trading partners would prefer to maintain existing agreements with his administration, warning that the legal powers he holds as president could result in tougher terms.

Shortly after the ruling, Trump imposed a new 10 percent tariff under a separate legal authority. The temporary duty took effect Tuesday and is set to last 150 days unless extended by Congress. The president has already pledged to raise the rate to 15 percent.

Trump insisted that the new measures would produce a stronger long-term outcome and said congressional approval would not be required. He also repeated his claim that tariffs, which he said are paid by foreign countries, could eventually help replace the modern income tax system and ease the financial burden on Americans.

However, a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concluded that nearly 90 percent of the economic cost of tariffs is borne by US firms and consumers.

The court’s ruling does not apply to Trump’s sector-specific tariffs, including those targeting industries such as steel and automobiles.