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Court rebuke won’t end tariffs threat. Trump has fallbacks
South-east Asia can’t bank on US Supreme Court ruling. It should negotiate carve-outs and could diversify its trading options.
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US President Donald Trump still has other options even if the Supreme Court restrains his ability to impose reciprocal tariffs.
PHOTO: AFP
Shay Webster
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The Trump tariffs aren’t ending. But the headwinds they face are real – and getting stronger. The US economy is shaky with a softening jobs market and persistent inflation, and voter disapproval of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies is mounting. In a nod to political reality, the White House has begun rolling back some food tariffs to ease rising grocery prices. Most immediately, the Supreme Court appears poised to strip away his favourite tool
When the court heard challenges to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on Nov 5, judges across the ideological spectrum appeared sceptical that Congress intended a 1977 emergency statute to let presidents rewrite America’s tariff schedule. A decision will come soon, and South-east Asian partners would be wise to prepare for what comes next.
