The US Supreme Court banned Donald Trump’s tariffs on February 20, 2026. That means now the tariff will not be valid on any country in the world. On this decision of the Supreme Court, Trump in the press conference described this decision as extremely disappointing and said that he is ashamed of some members of the Supreme Court of the United States, and also criticized their decision. Trump said that till now he had been treading very carefully so as not to upset the courts. But now they have other options also.

Alternative measures will be used on tariffs

Trump is continuously attacking the judges who ruled against him in the tariff case and is arguing that he has won the presidential election, so the judges should not rule against him. Trump said on the judges, ‘They are very undemocratic and not loyal to our Constitution.’

Donald Trump said alternative measures will be used on tariffs after the US Supreme Court struck down his global tariff policy, indicating that his administration will pursue other options to advance its trade agenda.

Trump claimed that he can impose measures like imposing a complete ban or stopping trade with a particular country. However, he also said that under the court’s decision, they ‘cannot impose any fine’. His statements indicate a possible escalation in trade policy and renewed tensions with global partners.

Only the US Parliament has the right to impose tariffs: Court

The US Supreme Court has canceled President Donald Trump’s global tariff on February 20, 2026. The court has declared the tariffs imposed on other countries illegal. This means that the 18% reciprocal tariff imposed on India has also now been declared illegal. The Supreme Court, while giving its verdict with a majority of 6-3, said that under the Constitution, only the Congress (US Parliament) has the right to impose taxes and tariffs, not the President.

The court said that Trump misused the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which allows to control some international transactions in a national emergency, but not to impose tariffs on such a large scale.

IEEPA law does not allow President to impose tariffs: Court

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion on this decision. Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and the court’s three liberal judges agreed with him. The dissenting judges included Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh. The court clarified that a 1977 law like IEEPA does not give the President the power to impose such broad tariffs.

Earlier, Trump had said regarding the hearing on tariffs that if he lost the case, the country would be ruined. This decision of the court is being considered a big blow to Trump’s economic policies.

Will Trump return the tariff money?

So far, the Trump administration has levied tariffs of more than $175 billion. After the decision of the Supreme Court, now this amount may have to be returned. However, no decision has been taken yet on refund. The Trump administration had earlier said that if the case was lost, trade agreements with many countries may have to be withdrawn and huge refunds may have to be paid.

Tariff game started 10 months ago

In April 2025, citing national security, Trump had imposed heavy tariffs i.e. import duties on goods coming from many countries of the world. Tariff means that more tax is imposed on goods coming from a country, so that it becomes expensive and domestic companies benefit.

The US Supreme Court has declared Trump’s tariffs illegal, after which President Donald Trump’s first reaction has come to light. Trump has condemned the Supreme Court’s decision and called it shameful. However, till now no formal comment has come from the White House on this decision.

NBC News quoted sources as saying that the US President was meeting with a group when the Supreme Court’s decision regarding tariffs came. Terming this decision as shameful, he told the people present there that he had an alternative plan.

What did the Supreme Court comment?

The court said in its decision that President Trump violated his jurisdiction while imposing tariffs on more than 100 countries. They imposed the tariffs under a law designed for use in national emergencies. According to the US Constitution, the right to impose taxes and tariffs rests not with the President but with the Congress (Parliament). However, Trump used tariffs as a major economic and foreign policy tool. He described these tariffs as important for American economic security. Apart from this, Trump had predicted that without tariffs the country would be ruined.

Court gave its decision on tariff by 6-3

This historic decision of the Supreme Court has come by 6-3. Trump is the first President who imposed tariffs on more than 100 countries citing an emergency law of the 1970s. Not only this, he also made trade deals with many countries by threatening tariffs. The word ‘tariff’ is not mentioned anywhere in this law. Writing the decision on behalf of the majority, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said that this law does not give the President the authority to impose tariffs.

What will be Trump’s next step?

This matter first went to the lower courts, from where Trump got a setback. After that the Trump administration had approached the Supreme Court. Now here too Trump has had to face defeat. Now it remains to be seen what Trump’s next step will be to defend the tariffs.