US Supreme Court’s tariff ruling could come as early as the 14th… White House: “Plenty of other options even if we lose”

US Supreme Court: “May issue decisions in major cases on the 14th,” according to its website

White House says it has many other options even if the Court rules tariffs illegal

Kevin Hassett: “A range of legal authorities exists”

The US Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on the legality of the Donald Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff policy on the 14th, after it declined to deliver a decision on the matter on the 9th (local time), when a final determination had been anticipated.

That expectation follows the Court’s schedule notice posted on its website the same day, stating it may announce decisions in major cases on the 14th. Legal experts say a tariff ruling could be handed down as early as that date. The Court customarily does not disclose in advance which cases it will decide.

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments over whether the president can impose sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), in line with President Trump’s claim that the US trade deficit constitutes a national emergency and therefore requires tariffs on countries worldwide.

Twelve states led by Democratic governors and small and midsize businesses have filed suit against the Trump administration. Lower courts previously found the administration’s move—using emergency powers to impose tariffs globally—was unlawful.

The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority and has previously issued decisions favorable to Trump in major cases.

Even if the Court limits the president’s authority to impose tariffs, Trump is expected to try to maintain the tariff policy by invoking other laws, including Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Still, any effort to pursue tariffs at the same unconstrained level as before is likely to face limits.

The White House said that even if the Supreme Court rules that the large-scale tariff measures imposed by President Donald Trump under emergency powers are unlawful, it can achieve the same policy effects by using other legal tools.

Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council (NEC) and a close aide to Trump, also said in a CNBC interview on the 9th (local time) that “assuming the Supreme Court delivers an unfavorable ruling on tariffs imposed under the IEEPA, we held a large meeting last night with all key officials to discuss what the next steps would be.”

Hassett added, “There are various legal authorities that would allow us to replicate the agreements we have reached with other countries, and they can be implemented essentially immediately,” and said, “We expect to win this lawsuit, but even if not, we already know there are other ways to reach the same result.”

He also said Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative (USTR), is closely involved in preparing these emergency-response scenarios.

New York—Park Shin-young, Correspondent nyusos@hankyung.com