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Civitas Outlook
Topic
Constitutionalism
Published on
Feb 20, 2026
Contributors
John Yoo

Supreme Court tariff ruling should end complaints that justices favor Trump

Contributors
John Yoo
John Yoo
Senior Research Fellow
John Yoo
Summary

John Yoo writes on the Supreme Court’s decision on President Trump’s tariff case.

Summary

John Yoo writes on the Supreme Court’s decision on President Trump’s tariff case.

Listen to this article

The Supreme Court just struck down President Donald Trump’s worldwide tariffs. Contrary to immediate takes on the opinion, Learning Resources v. Trump does not mark a permanent reduction in presidential power. If he chooses, Trump could restore many of his tariffs over the next year under different laws. But Learning Resources should put to bed the left’s attacks on the court and the Constitution, while also highlighting the need for cooperation between the president and Congress in managing foreign affairs.

Writing for a 6-3 majority, Chief Justice John Roberts reaffirmed two basic constitutional principles. First, he wrote that the Constitution vests the power to impose tariffs and taxes in Congress alone. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states that "Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposes and Excises," and "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations." Second, Congress can delegate that power to the president. Congress has enacted a series of trade laws that have. There was no real disagreement among any of the justices on these two fundamental points.

Read the full article on Fox News.

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