Reed Cheers SCOTUS Ruling Against Trump’s Abuse of Tariff Powers as a Win for American Families & Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Learning Resources v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc. that the Trump Administration abused its authorities under emergency economic power legislation to impose broad-based tariffs, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) hailed the decision as a significant victory for American families, businesses, and the U.S. economy.

Reed, who joined an amicus brief in the cases against the Trump Administration and supported successful bipartisan Senate bills to nullify Trump's broad-based tariffs, noted that the ruling is a major victory over executive overreach but still does not apply to all of Trump's chaotic and costly tariff policies. It only covers tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China, the worldwide "Liberation Day" tariffs, and other specific ones against countries such as Brazil, where President Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), through which the Trump Administration has collected an estimated $175 billion - almost entirely paid for by Americans.

Reed says he wants to see a fair process established so that much of that money goes back to the people who were unfairly forced to pay it.

Senator Reed stated:

"This is a win for the American people and our Constitution, which forbids exactly what President Trump has been doing.

"Today, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's misuse of emergency powers that he used to wrongfully impose broad-based tariffs under the false cloak of an "emergency." This should provide a welcome measure of relief to American consumers and businesses who were being forced to pay higher prices due to Trump's tariff taxes. It also represents a major blow to the Trump Administration's executive overreach and attempts to wield power outside of its constitutional authority.

"Trump's chaotic tariff taxes have hurt a lot of small businesses and they deserve economic relief. Instead of fighting American businesses, I urge the White House to quickly refund Americans for the money they've lost due to these illegal tariffs. I also urge President Trump to work with Democrats to help lower prices by cancelling his other harmful tariffs, which are still costing Americans around $800 per year."

Chief Justice John Roberts was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson in the majority. Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito dissented.

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