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
A new study found that retaining the EPA’s half-RIN credit protects soybean demand, farm income, and crushing-sector strength while preserving biofuel market flexibility.
“I’m not sure where this bridge goes,” trader Brady Huck with Advanced Trading told RFD-TV News earlier this week.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Danny Munch joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to break down the scope of the U.S. Christmas Tree industry and what growers are up against.
Canadian tariffs would raise costs for potash, ammonia, and UAN, increasing spring fertilizer risk.
Experts say flooding the zone with more money could have unintented consequences without opening new markets for planted crops and inputs under significant pressure.
Julie Callahan was nominated earlier this summer by President Donald Trump, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told lawmakers she is ready to hit the ground running.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Shaun Haney joined us to discuss Canada’s new trade agreement with China, the potential impact on farmers and exporters, and what it could mean for U.S.–Canada trade relations going forward.
National Corn Growers Association Chief Economist Krista Swanson discusses corn supply pressures, market fundamentals, policy considerations, and producer outlook for the year ahead.
The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
The application deadline is March 8, 2026. The 1890 National Scholars Program aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.
Midland County Junior Livestock Show in West Texas features swine competition with top exhibitors, including Grand Champion Brinley Wilson, ahead of Saturday’s premium sale.