WASHINGTON — United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration is preparing to implement a sweeping 15% global tariff this week. This move represents a strategic pivot in the president’s trade policy after the Supreme Court delivered a significant legal setback to his previous tariff framework last month.
The Supreme Court’s ruling invalidated the country-specific tariffs that President Trump had imposed on both allies and economic competitors, striking a blow to his cornerstone economic initiative. In response, the administration has utilized Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to enact a new 10% duty, which Bessent confirmed would be elevated to 15% imminently.
According to Bessent, this tariff authority provides a 150-day window for implementation unless extended by Congressional approval. During this five-month period, the administration plans to conclude multiple investigations into national security concerns and unfair trade practices that could justify additional, more permanent tariff measures.
Bessent expressed confidence that tariff rates would return to their previous levels within this timeframe, noting that the legal authorities underpinning these investigations have withstood over 4,000 legal challenges and represent a more methodical though robust approach to trade enforcement.
The court’s decision did not affect sector-specific tariffs on goods such as steel and automobiles, nor earlier tariffs on China that followed extended investigation periods. The administration continues to pursue investigations into various sectors including imported pharmaceuticals and drones, as well as China’s compliance with existing trade agreements.
The previously invalidated tariffs, implemented under emergency economic powers, had generated approximately $130 billion in government revenue by late 2025. The court ruling has initiated complex litigation regarding refunds, with a federal appeals court recently rejecting the administration’s attempt to delay these proceedings.