By SUN REPORTER, Washington D.C.
DEFIANT Donald Trump has sensationally bypassed a Supreme Court block to slap a fresh 10 percent “emergency” tax on every single product entering America.
In a move that sent shockwaves through global markets last night, the US President proved he is still the ultimate “Tariff Man” by triggering a little-known 1974 trade law to keep his protectionist dream alive.
The bombshell announcement came just hours after the US Supreme Court—including judges Trump himself appointed—ruled 6-3 that his previous sweeping tariffs were unconstitutional.
Chief Justice John Roberts had warned the White House that the power to tax sits with Congress, not the President.
But a fuming Trump hit back immediately, telling reporters at a packed White House press conference: “We’re doing it anyway. We’re immediately instituting the 10 percent provision, which we’re allowed to do.”
The ‘150-Day’ Loophole
The new 10 percent surcharge is set to kick in this Tuesday, February 24. To dodge the legal handcuffs placed on him by the court, Trump is using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
This “loophole” allows a President to impose temporary 150-day import surcharges during times of “adverse” balance of payments.
While the court killed his “forever” tariffs, this new move gives him five months of breathing room to investigate even tougher permanent taxes on foreign rivals.
What it Means for Britain
For British shoppers and businesses, the news is a bitter pill. While the UK and US signed a “Tech Prosperity Deal” last year to protect our burgeoning AI and quantum sectors, this new blanket tax threatens to hit everything from Scotch whisky to high-end British cars.
Insiders suggest the Prime Minister is “monitoring the situation closely,” but UK business leaders are already sounding the alarm. “This is a hammer blow for certainty,” one industry boss told SCM.
The “Liberation Day” Tariffs: In April 2025, Trump declared a national emergency, claiming trade deficits were a “threat to sovereignty.”
He imposed a baseline 10% tariff on almost all countries (the UK included) and up to 50% on “trade rivals” like China.
The Legal Battle: Businesses sued, arguing Trump was acting like a King rather than a President. On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) doesn’t give him the right to raise taxes—that’s a job for the politicians in the Capitol.
The Pivot: Instead of backing down, Trump’s team pivoted to the 1974 Trade Act. It’s a “temporary” measure, but in Trump-land, temporary often means the start of a very long negotiation.
The UK Angle: Britain has tried to play “best mate” to avoid the worst of the fallout. We secured an Economic Prosperity Deal in May 2025 which offered some relief for steel and car exports, but this new blanket 10% surcharge could reset the clock on those hard-won wins.
