The leader of the minority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, declared: «We will not allow the devastation caused by Trump to worsen». In a statement, Schumer considered that this new tariff will mean an increase in prices in the country, which «will make the lives of millions of Americans unsustainable». Hours after the Supreme Court invalidated most of the tariffs imposed by the president—specifically those driven under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA)—Trump announced last Friday that he would impose a global tariff of 10% under Section 122 of the Trade Act, a different power that was not struck down by the high court. On Saturday, the Republican increased the rate to 15%, the maximum percentage allowed under the legislation. In its ruling, the majority of the Supreme Court considers that the use of the IEEPA, a cornerstone of Trump's trade war, would represent an excessively broad delegation of the taxing power that the Constitution reserves for Congress, as the court considers that tariffs are a type of tax on citizens. «As president, I do not have to go to Congress to get approval for the tariffs,» the head of state assured this Monday on his Truth Social platform, where he also threatened to increase the tariffs on countries that «play» with the court's decision. Among the tariffs affected by the court's ruling are the global base tariff on foreign imports and the so-called «reciprocal» tariffs on the trading partners of the world's largest economy, along with additional 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. The Republican's decisions to increase tariffs by up to 50% on Brazil and India as retaliation for the prosecution of his ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and the purchase of Russian crude, respectively, were also invalidated. Democrats warned this Monday that they will block any attempt by Trump to extend the new 15% global tariff. This new rate, applied under section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, will take effect this Tuesday with a duration of 150 days, after which it will need Congress's approval to be extended. «Senate Democrats will continue to fight against Trump's tariff tax and block any attempt to extend these harmful tariffs when they expire this summer».
