Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared Friday that a recent Supreme Court decision has diminished President Donald Trump’s negotiating power by overturning tariffs that were implemented through emergency authority legislation.
Speaking on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show,” Bessent explained the court’s impact on the administration’s trade strategy. “The Supreme Court has taken away the President’s leverage, but in a way, they have made the leverage that he has more draconian because they agreed he does have the right to a full embargo,” Bessent stated during the interview.
The Treasury Secretary indicated that the administration would find alternative pathways to maintain current tariff levels. “We will get back to the same tariff level for the countries. It will just be in a less direct and slightly more convoluted manner,” he explained.
Following the court’s decision on Friday, Trump responded by declaring his intention to use alternative legal authorities for tariff collection and revealed plans for a comprehensive 10% tariff on imports from all other nations.
Bessent expressed confidence that international partners would maintain their existing trade commitments with the Trump administration from the past year.
The Treasury Secretary emphasized the president’s broader trade enforcement capabilities, stating: “He (Trump) has a right to a complete embargo, he can just cut countries off … or he can cut whole product lines off. We can’t receive any money. So, I would call on all countries to honor their agreements and move forward.”
