What are the options if the Supreme Court rules against the Trump Administration’s tariffs?

The Supreme Court could soon be nearing a decision in the coming weeks on President Trump’s trade policy.

Trump has been pleading in recent days on social media for the high court to overturn the lower court rulings, which called his use of these tariffs illegal, but ag lawyer Roger McEowen points out that the White House has options if justices are not on his side.

“There are other tools that are not subject to whatever the Supreme Court would say in this case. This only involves IEEPA tariffs. It doesn’t involve the other types of tariffs. But the basic question before the court is whether the president’s tariffs under the IEEPA, both the fentanyl tariffs on China and Canada, and the tariffs, the reciprocal tariffs on everybody, is that a legal use of the law.”

McEowen says if the Supreme Court rules against the Trump Administration, it could complicate a number of issues, starting with U.S. revenue streams.

“We have a huge rebalancing of world trade, both in converting some purchasing to domestic sources and at least moving lots of import purchases to other foreign suppliers. That moves away from China, which is our most dangerous enemy. And you have many trade deals that the President has already negotiated. Those differ wildly from country to country, and it opens up foreign markets to our goods and increases our exports in certain areas of the world. It’s a total rebalancing.”

Supreme court justices have been mulling this case over for some time now, but this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business the ruling could come as soon as next month. Bessent also expects a new Fed Chair to be named around the same time, with current Chair Jerome Powell’s term ending in May.

Related Stories
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) says recent wins in markets like Malaysia and Cambodia help farmers focus on production rather than trade barriers.
Lucia Ruano, USMEF’s Central America representative, discusses what is driving demand for U.S. beef and pork in the region.
Tyson expects another year of beef-segment losses due to tight cattle supplies, even as chicken, pork, and prepared foods strengthen overall margins.
Export strength is concentrated in corn and wheat, while soybeans and sorghum lag, keeping basis and logistics dynamics highly commodity-specific into late fall.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on what the bill could mean for truckers.
With port fees now lifted, economists believe that could help ease tensions. However, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Faith Parum said trade deals with smaller Asian countries are helping stabilize the ag economy.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Raulston Acres Christmas Tree Farm in Rock Springs, Ga., has been in the same family for three generations.
Reed Marcum started hosting a toy drive in 2015. Since then, he has distributed thousands of toys across his home state of Oklahoma and in Texas and Arkansas. Now serving in the Army, Reed’s family and local 4-H chapter are running the event.
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen explains the basics of Low-Risk Credit in Farming, and how an understanding of the farm credit landscape lets producers tactfully approach debt.
Mike Steenhoek, with the Soy Transportation Commission, shares his outlook on current grain stocks and transportation lines amid bumper crops filling bins across the United States.
Renewable Fuels Association President & CEO Geoff Cooper explains their call for reciprocal duties on Chinese ag imports after China failed to meet past promises on ethanol production.
American soybean and corn leaders, along with Canada’s AgriFood sector, testified before the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in support of the trade pact between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.