Trump’s tariffs have been struck down but there’s a catch. These sectors still face heavy duties

In a major setback to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade agenda, the country's Supreme Court has struck down a broad set of tariffs he imposed under emergency powers --but the ruling does not wipe the slate clean.

The decision invalidates many of the levies Trump rolled out using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a statute he invoked to declare national emergencies tied to immigration, drug trafficking and even foreign legal proceedings.

However, several other tariffs, grounded in different legal authorities, remain firmly in place — leaving key industries still exposed to high import duties.


Here’s what the ruling changes, and what it doesn’t.

Also read: US Supreme Court rules against Trump’s global tariffs imposed under emergency law

What tariffs are affected

Trump had leaned heavily on IEEPA to impose tariffs on some of America’s largest trading partners.

Early last year, he cited the law to slap tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China -- the United States’ three biggest trading partners. He justified the move by declaring a national emergency over undocumented immigration and the trafficking of fentanyl and precursor chemicals used to manufacture it.

In April, during what he called “Liberation Day,” Trump dramatically expanded the scope of his trade actions. He announced “reciprocal” tariffs of up to 50% on goods from dozens of countries, along with a baseline 10% tariff on nearly all other imports. These measures, too, were rooted in IEEPA.

Trump also invoked the same emergency authority to impose steep tariffs on imports from Brazil, citing that country’s criminal prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Separately, he targeted India with new import taxes over its purchases of Russian oil.

Tariffs, tensions, truces: From 'Liberation Day' shock to courtroom knockdown — the full Trump trade war timeline

Over the past year, many of these IEEPA-based tariffs saw a roller-coaster trajectory -- rolled out, suspended, raised and in some cases reintroduced. The Supreme Court’s ruling now upends much of that architecture, striking down the tariffs that were justified under the emergency powers law.

But the decision stops short of dismantling Trump’s entire tariff regime.

Steel and aluminum

One of the most consequential carve-outs involves tariffs imposed under separate trade authorities. Levies on steel and aluminum imports, long a pillar of Trump’s protectionist approach, are not affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Trading partners across the globe still face steep duties on these metals, which were targeted on sector-specific grounds rather than under IEEPA. As a result, foreign steel and aluminum exporters continue to encounter high barriers when accessing the US market.

Automobiles

The auto sector also remains under pressure.

Tariffs on imported cars, imposed using authorities distinct from IEEPA, are untouched by the court’s decision. That means automakers and parts suppliers in major exporting nations continue to grapple with elevated costs when shipping vehicles into the United States.

For countries with significant automotive exports to the US, these duties remain a critical trade irritant.

Also read: Trump calls US Supreme Court's tariff ruling ‘a disgrace,’ says ‘backup plan’ ready

Copper

Copper imports are another category still facing steep tariffs.

While broader emergency-based tariffs have been struck down, sectoral levies on copper, applied under different statutory justifications, remain in force. This keeps pressure on global copper suppliers and industries that rely on cross-border trade in the industrial metal.

Lumber

Lumber is similarly unaffected by the ruling.

Import taxes on lumber products continue to apply, maintaining higher costs for foreign suppliers and shaping pricing dynamics in the US housing and construction markets.

Trump's tariffs struck down: Here's what the US Supreme Court said

Kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities

Tariffs targeting finished goods such as kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities also remain intact.

These sector-specific measures, which apply to imports from various trading partners, were not grounded in IEEPA. As a result, they survive the Supreme Court’s decision and continue to influence supply chains in the home improvement and construction sectors.

Upholstered furniture

Upholstered furniture imports are likewise still subject to elevated tariffs.

Manufacturers and exporters in affected countries continue to face steep duties when selling into the US market, underscoring that while the emergency-based tariffs have been curtailed, many industry-focused trade barriers endure.