‘War-tested tariffs’: Trump cites India-Pakistan conflict to defend trade offensive after court ruling

President says Supreme Court only blocked a “particular use” of IEEPA, argues tariffs have historically protected the US in wartime, including India-Pakistan conflicts.

• Supreme Court limits Trump's use of IEEPA for tariffs
• Trump says other tariff powers remain unaffected
• Section 232 and 301 tariffs will stay in place

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President Donald Trump lashed out at the US Supreme Court after it curtailed his use of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), calling the ruling 'deeply disappointing' and accusing certain justices of failing to act in the country’s interest.

But even as he criticised the court, Trump framed the decision as a narrow legal setback, not a retreat from tariffs. He insisted the justices 'did not overrule tariffs,' only a 'particular use of IEEPA,' and argued that other statutory tools remain intact.

In defending his broader authority, Trump leaned heavily on history. He said tariffs had been used in 'five of eight wars,' including conflicts involving India and Pakistan.

He framed the court’s decision as overly restrictive, saying it effectively prevents him from charging 'one dollar' under IEEPA, even as it affirms his authority to block imports from other countries.

The Supreme Court ruling limited Trump’s ability to use IEEPA, a law traditionally tied to national emergencies, to impose sweeping tariffs. Trump claimed the court order allows a president to impose tariffs under other statutes and gives him “unquestioned right” to ban imports, but not to levy duties via the emergency pathway he had chosen.

He described the ruling as influenced by 'foreign interests' and political movements, and said dissenting opinions made clear, in his view, that broader tariff authority remains defensible.

He floated the idea of imposing a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122, a trade provision that allows the president to address balance-of-payments pressures and other economic disruptions. Unlike IEEPA, Section 122 is not rooted in emergency national security declarations.

In parallel, he said the administration is initiating Section 301 measures to counter what he called unfair trade practices. Section 301 authorises the US Trade Representative to investigate and respond to foreign practices deemed discriminatory or burdensome to American commerce. It has been used in past trade disputes to justify targeted tariffs.

“All national security tariffs under Section 232 and Section 301 remain in place,” Trump said, signalling continuity in existing duties.