SCOTUS Strikes Down Trump’s Trade Tariffs

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that the U.S. President cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs. That decision removes a key legal basis behind the 2025 tariff program— but it does not remove uncertainty for global business.

In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega get Down to Business with the court decision that reshaped the U.S. tariff story. They review the timeline of how the tariff policy expanded in 2025 — including reciprocal tariffs that ranged from 10% to 50% and were framed as a response to U.S. trade deficits. Then they break down the Court’s main point in plain English: “regulating” trade is not the same thing as taxing imports — and under the U.S. Constitution, Congress (not the President) controls taxes and duties. Finally, they look at how other countries are reacting and ask the next big business question: if companies paid tariffs under IEEPA, what happens now — and will refunds be possible?

Skip and Samantha's conversation gives listeners a clear, practical look at tariff policy — while helping you build your Business English. In this episode, you will learn:

1. What ‘SCOTUS’ and ‘IEEPA’ mean, and why legal details matter for global firms.
3. The timeline of the US tariff since Donald Trump to office in January 2025.
4. Why tariff refunds are complicated and why it may take time to sort out.
5. What ‘Plan B’ looks like: a temporary global tariff under Section 122 — and why uncertainty may continue even after a major court ruling.

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