Picture Credit : Vice President JD Vance @VP/X
US Vice President JD Vance criticised the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs.
In a post on X, Vance said the SC decision is “lawlessness from courts” and will make it harder for President Trump to protect American industries.
“Today, the Supreme Court decided that Congress, despite giving the president the ability to “regulate imports”, didn’t actually mean it. This is lawlessness from the Court, plain and simple. And its only effect will be to make it harder for the president to protect American industries and supply chain resiliency,” he said.
Today, the Supreme Court decided that Congress, despite giving the president the ability to “regulate imports”, didn’t actually mean it. This is lawlessness from the Court, plain and simple. And its only effect will be to make it harder for the president to protect American…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) February 20, 2026
“President Trump has a wide range of other tariff powers, and he will use them to defend American workers and advance this administration’s trade priorities,” he added.
Shortly after SC’s ruling, Trump announced he would sign an executive order for a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits.
“Effective immediately, all the national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs remain in place… Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged,” he said. –
