Trump tariffs case: No ruling issued by US Supreme Court on Friday

The US Supreme Court on Friday did not issue a ruling in the closely watched case concerning President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, delaying a decision in litigation that tests the limits of presidential powers and carries implications for the global economy.

The pending ruling relates to Trump’s move to impose tariffs by invoking a 1977 law meant for national emergencies after his return to office in January 2025.

The tariffs were challenged by businesses affected by them and 12 US states, most of them Democratic-governed, after lower courts ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority. During arguments before the Supreme Court on November 5, both conservative and liberal justices appeared to cast doubt on the legality of the tariffs.


Trump imposed “reciprocal” tariffs on imports from a wide range of countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, saying trade deficits constituted a national emergency. He used the same law to levy tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, citing the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs as a national emergency.

Trump has said tariffs have made the United States stronger financially and wrote on January 2 that a ruling against the tariffs would be a “terrible blow.”

Meanwhile, with no ruling issued on Friday, higher duties on Indian goods entering the US remain in place for now, keeping trade uncertainty elevated. Washington imposed a 25% additional tariff on Indian exports in 2025 and later raised some of these duties to as much as 50% in August amid disputes over New Delhi’s continued oil imports from Russia.

India has maintained that it remains engaged with the US on a broader trade understanding, even as talks have been strained.