WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — The Supreme Court sounded wary of using the emergency-powers law (IEEPA) to levy broad tariffs, pressing whether Congress ever authorized the White House to tax imports at scale.
Reports from the chamber on Wednesday described bipartisan skepticism and repeated references to Congressional tariff authority, alongside questions about potential refunds of roughly $90 billion already collected. A ruling could narrow or reshape unilateral tariff tools used since 2025.
In agriculture, the case intersects with the administration’s leverage strategy: tariffs have been wielded to push partners to the bargaining table—from China’s Phase One purchases to current high-stakes talks with Brazil and India. Analysts note that while tariffs can force negotiations, they also invite retaliation and raise costs on steel, equipment, chemicals, and other farm inputs. If the Court curbs IEEPA tariffs, the White House may still reach for other trade statutes, but the scope and speed could change.
Near-term, growers face policy uncertainty as markets handicap outcomes and partners watch for signals. Negotiations with India continue amid steep U.S. duties; Brazil talks are active as tariffs ripple through beef and other flows; and China remains a touchstone for how tariff pressure translates into concessions. The decision, expected in 2026, will shape input costs, export access, and the playbook for future trade deals.
Farm-Level Takeaway: The Court may limit emergency tariff powers, complicating a key bargaining tool; ag could see shifts in input costs and export dynamics as China, Brazil, and India talks evolve.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Expert
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council published a joint press release regarding the advancement of legislation to delist the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
January 23, 2026 05:05 PM
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
·
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us to break down the recent Fifth Circuit Court decision overturning a prior Tax Court decision on self-employment tax for limited partners, the ruling’s impact on farmers, and potential next steps in Congress.
January 23, 2026 02:00 PM
·
Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.
January 23, 2026 01:54 PM
·
Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition discusses supply chain challenges facing agriculture as snow, sleet and ice threaten most of the Eastern U.S.
January 23, 2026 01:36 PM
·
Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
January 23, 2026 01:12 PM
·
Brian Earnest, an animal protein economist with CoBank, shares insights into current demand trends and the challenges facing broiler production.
January 22, 2026 06:34 PM
·
Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.
January 22, 2026 06:25 PM
·
Moderate oil prices may ease fuel costs, but continued caution in the energy sector could limit rural economic growth.
January 22, 2026 06:00 PM
·
