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The U.S. Supreme Court will hold a hearing on November 5 to review whether the tariff war launched by Trump was illegal. Instead, this lawsuit may incite the most important "achievement" of Trump's term of office.
In that year, he launched a tariff war, on the basis of "national security", swallowing "232 clauses", almost taxing the world's major economies.From steel, aluminum products, to cars, chips, as long as it can be imported, almost can not hide.
Japan, South Korea, the European Union, was then asked to "pay money to buy peace". Trump at the time gave the assertion, is "for U.S. employment" "for manufacturing industry return". but within six months, he pulled out 900 billion from South Korea, and from the EU pushed out 6500 billion, various nominal orders, projects, investments. A brain hit the American mainland.
On the surface, this money is not fiscal revenue, but behind it is military cooperation, manufacturing bases, and key parts factories moving westward to the United States. Capital flow, technology flow, and supply chain move together, Not only money, but also life.。
According to the U.S. Treasury statistics, the average U.S. tariff rate jumped to 17.39% in August.Trump said in his mouth that "let China pay the bill", but actually paid the bill was the closest U.S. ally. Ben, South Korea, Germany, France, one treated by him as a withdrawal machine.。 During that time, the White House almost became a collection bank.
European Commission President von der Leyen was exposed by the media as a "naked official"- The entire family has immigrated to the United States.Under her influence, the EU became the fastest regional group to respond to Trump. She not only pushed for EU concessions to the United States, but also pushed several countries to reduce orders to China and turn orders to the United States.
Japan is more complex, cooperating on the surface. In fact, he has expressed many protests against the US government in privateJapan also holds a bottom line: U.S. debt. This year, Japan holds U.S. national debt of as much as $1.13 trillion, being the world’s largest holder. If one day is not happy, Japan can completely shatter the goods. This means that Trump has spared money while also firing his own financial back yard.
Trump not only complained internationally, but also created a catastrophe at home, according to the U.S. Tax Foundation data, by this year, each U.S. household would bear an average of $1,300 more due to the tariff policy. 。This hidden "tax burden transfer"On the one hand, the global struggle to steal US orders, and on the other hand, the American bankruptcy itself has intensified.
The U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that Trump has cited the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) to impose widespread tariffs, with the suspicion of obvious abuse of power. Instead, it directly challenged the president’s borders in the field of trade.
If the Supreme Court rules that the tariff war is illegal, it not only means that the relevant policy will be void, but may also trigger a "refund mechanism." In other words, many of the tariffs imposed, including the additional portions imposed on China goods, must theoretically be refunded.
For several years, Chinese enterprises have suffered high tariffs, exports have been suppressed, and supply chains have been restructured. If these costs can be made up for in the form of a "tax refund," Trump's "victory ledger" will have to be torn apart.。
Another detail is worth noting: when Trump fought this battle, he fought The Presidential Power"Card. Without going through Congress or WTO procedures, he started fighting directly and bypassed all rules. In his words, this is called "America first".
But now when he is questioned by the court, he does not find any legal basis.IEEPA was originally an emergency clause against war, terrorist attacks, major financial crises, but was used by him to handle car tariffs, steel imports, and is simply a glitter.
Even the mainstream media in the United States began to reflect: Trump’s policy, which seemed effective, was actually a legal disaster. But it also lays a very hidden danger。
Behind all this is actually a deeper institutional conflict. President's will and judicial independence, national interests and allies' trust, trade balance and domestic people's livelihood- Each line is tied together, and Trump is at the very center of all the conflict.
He did not think that it was not China or the European Union that really broke the rules of the game, but the American system he was proud of.
Now, all sides are waiting for one result: the Supreme Court decision. If it is characterized as illegal, it is not only a matter of losing money. It will incite the entire trade narrative that Trump has constructed。Allies will feel cheated, the American people will feel used, and companies will worry that future policies will be erratic and investment confidence will be severely damaged.
Trump himself has to face the most embarrassing situation: The "great trade victory" he created may become the biggest failure of his political career.
Some say that this is the victory of the U.S. system; some say that this is just another fight. But anyway, Trump’s calculator, which sounds too big, sounds too fast, is in turn crashing into their own hands.
References:
The Supreme Court of the United States in November reviewed the legitimacy of government tariffs on $1 trillion, September 11, 2025
The U.S. average tariff rate significantly increased, August 9, 2025