Trump hikes global tariff from 10% to 15%, says it is 'legally tested'

He accused several countries of exploiting the United States for decades and argued that increasing the tariff rate was necessary to counter those practices

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he is raising the proposed global tariff rate from 10 percent to 15 percent, sharply criticising a recent US court ruling and calling it “anti-American.”

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the higher tariff would take effect immediately. He framed the decision as a response to what he described as unfair trade practices by other countries and defended the move as legally sound.

“Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been “ripping” the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level."

“As President of the United States, I will be raising the worldwide tariff from 10% to the fully permitted and legally tested 15% level,” Trump wrote.

He further added, “During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs."

The announcement comes in the wake of a US Supreme Court ruling that scrutinised the scope of presidential authority over tariffs. Trump said his decision followed a “thorough, detailed, and complete review” of what he called a “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court.”

Trump on Friday also approved a 10 percent “global tariff” on imports from “all countries”, claiming it would take effect “almost immediately.”

“It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Nothing changes. They’ll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs…,” he added, responding to a question at the White House on the US-India trade deal.

Trump also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “a great man,” and said he was “much smarter than the people he was against in terms of the US…”

India, meanwhile, said it was assessing the implications of the court ruling and subsequent US announcements. In its first response, the Ministry of Commerce said it had noted the Supreme Court judgment and Trump’s comments, and was reviewing the steps announced by the US administration.

“We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications,” the ministry said in a statement.

He accused several countries of exploiting the United States for decades and argued that increasing the tariff rate was necessary to counter those practices