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
Weekly export movement stayed solid, with corn and sorghum continuing to show the strongest overall pace.
California almond acreage tightens while pistachios shift into an off-year, shaping a mixed outlook for prices and supply in the tree nut market.
March cold storage data showed generally tighter year-over-year stock levels across several key meat and dairy categories.
U.S. Soybean Export Council CEO Jim Sutter joins us to discuss the impact of new trade development funding for U.S. soy.
Florida’s import rule shows New World screwworm concerns are already affecting livestock movement and market conditions.
Steady Panama Canal operations help support more predictable shipping conditions for global agriculture.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Mike Schulte with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission joins us to discuss drought stress in the Great Plains and the current outlook for Oklahoma’s winter wheat crop.
Farmers are closely watching upcoming U.S.-China trade talks as rising fertilizer and diesel costs continue to pressure exports, margins, and rural economies.
Autumn Lankford Higgins with the Farm Bureau joins us to discuss data center expansion on farmland, rural policy considerations, and the role of agriculture in emerging digital infrastructure.
In honor of America’s 250th birthday with each pup named after a national park.

U.S. Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper joins us to discuss the DOJ packer investigation, industry competition, and the outlook for cattle producers.