Trump Says Tariffs Will Return ‘In Another Form’ After US Court Ruling
US President says trade duties remain central to his policy as administration explores alternative legal routes following court ruling.
Washington, Mar 16: US President Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to tariff-based trade policies, saying his administration will bring back tariffs “in another form” after a recent setback in the Supreme Court of the United States blocked a key component of his trade agenda.
In a lengthy post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump described tariffs as the issue that “mattered most” to him and criticised the court’s decision, arguing it could cost the United States trillions of dollars by benefiting foreign governments and companies.
The February ruling struck down the administration’s proposed “reciprocal tariffs,” a policy designed to counter what Trump has repeatedly described as unfair trade practices by other economies.
Despite the judicial setback, Trump asserted that the court had acknowledged his authority to impose tariffs through other legal avenues. He said the administration has already started exploring those alternatives to continue its trade strategy.
Tariffs have been a central pillar of Trump’s economic policy, aimed at protecting American industries and reducing trade imbalances. According to the president, the blocked measures were intended to recover significant financial value that he believes has flowed abroad due to decades of disadvantageous trade arrangements.
In his remarks, Trump also praised conservative justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh for their stance, while criticising the broader court for halting the initiative.
Meanwhile, the US government has begun taking steps that could pave the way for new trade actions. The Office of the United States Trade Representative recently launched an investigation into alleged “unfair trade practices” related to excess industrial capacity across 16 economies.
The probe covers major global economies including China, European Union members, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico. The inquiry could lead to new tariffs being introduced as early as this summer.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the investigation will examine countries where manufacturing output significantly exceeds domestic demand, often resulting in persistent trade surpluses or unused production capacity.
Officials plan to analyse several factors during the probe, including government subsidies, currency policies, the role of state-owned enterprises, wage structures and environmental and labour standards.
Greer said the administration aims to complete the Section 301 investigation and propose remedies before existing temporary tariffs expire in July, signalling that the White House intends to keep tariff-driven trade policy at the forefront despite the court’s ruling.
