Donald Trump raised the global duty on imports into the US to 15% on Saturday, doubling down on his promise to maintain his aggressive tariff policy a day after the supreme court ruled much of it illegal.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that after a thorough review of Friday’s “extraordinarily anti-American decision” by the court to rein in his tariff program, the administration was hiking the import levies “to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level”.
Shortly after the court’s 6-3 ruling that rejected the president’s authority to impose tariffs under a 1977 economic emergency powers act, Trump had initially announced a new 10% global levy by invoking a different legal avenue.
Trump raises tariffs to 15% on imports from all countries
While Trump’s announcement claimed the new tariffs would take effect “immediately”, it was unclear whether any official documents had been signed confirming the timing. A White House fact sheet issued on Friday regarding the original 10% tariffs said the levies would go into effect at 12.01am ET on 24 February.
German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said he would travel to Washington with a coordinated European position, and warned of the “poison” of more uncertainty. French president, Emmanuel Macron, said France would consider the consequences of the new global tariff and that the fairest rule was “reciprocity”.
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US businesses clamor for refunds after supreme court strikes down Trump’s tariffs
Top associations of American businesses are demanding to be repaid for Trump’s tariffs following Friday’s supreme court ruling. The US Chamber of Commerce, too, called for swift return of an estimated $133bn in collected tariffs covered by the ruling.
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‘Dictator vibes’ as Trump puts name and face front and center
Thursday’s unfurling of a massive banner bearing the visage of Donald J Trump, on the exterior of the Washington headquarters of the federal justice department was only the latest example of how he has imposed himself on every facet of American life. Some critics have called it “dictator vibes”.
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Trump approves federal emergency declaration for Potomac River sewage spill
Trump approved a federal emergency declaration Saturday related to a sewer main break north of Washington DC that threatens to put a stink on the US’s 250th anniversary celebrations in the US capital this summer.
Iran prepares nuclear counterproposal as US considers limited military strikes
Iran’s foreign minister has said he expects to have a draft counterproposal ready within days after nuclear talks with the US this week, while Trump said he was considering limited military strikes.
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What else happened today:
Catching up? Here’s what happened on 20 February 2026.
