Justices questioned Trump administration lawyers on whether the President’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—declaring the trade deficit a national “emergency”, a condition that has persisted since 1975 —constituted an overreach into Congress’s authority.

At the hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expects the Court to uphold the tariffs under the President’s emergency powers. If the justices rule against the policy, he said, the White House could invoke other tariff provisions, including one that permits a 15% levy for up to 150 days, to address trade imbalances.

Trump’s tariffs on more than 100 trading partners have cost US households an average of 1,700 USD this year as prices rise in multiple sectors.