Trump’s Options If Supreme Court Says His Tariffs Are Illegal

The future of a key portion of President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign will be determined by the US Supreme Court. The justices are considering whether Trump can use an emergency law that had previously never been wielded to impose import taxes.

Lower courts have already ruled that he exceeded his authority by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify his sweeping “reciprocal” duties targeting America’s trading partners, as well as separate levies aimed at China, Canada and Mexico. The IEEPA-based tariffs have remained in effect as the legal proceedings continue.

If the Supreme Court rules that ...