Supreme Court strikes down Trump's IEEPA tariffs in landmark 6-3 ruling, finding 'those words cannot bear such weight'

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. Chief Justice Roberts, writing for the majority, stated: 'Based on two words separated by 16 others in IEEPA--"regulate" and "importation"--the President asserts the independent power to impose tariffs on imports from any country, of any product, at any rate, for any amount of time. Those words cannot bear such weight.' Roberts added: 'When Congress grants the power to impose tariffs, it does so clearly and with careful constraints. It did neither here.' The majority split on reasoning: Roberts, Gorsuch, and Barrett applied the major questions doctrine, finding Trump's interpretation represented a 'transformative expansion' requiring clear congressional delegation. Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson agreed on statutory text grounds that IEEPA's language simply does not include tariff authority. Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh dissented, with Kavanaugh arguing tariffs are a 'traditional and common tool' to regulate importation. The IEEPA tariffs had generated over $160 billion in revenue. The ruling did not address whether refunds would be owed to importers, with Kavanaugh warning the government 'may be required to refund billions of dollars.' The decision invalidated Trump's signature economic policy but left Section 232 tariffs and other trade measures intact.

"Those words cannot bear such weight." — Chief Justice Roberts writing for the 6-3 majority in Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump, rejecting Trump's claim that IEEPA authorized unlimited tariff power