The United States government has affirmed that its crucial tariff agreements with key trading partners will remain in force, despite President Donald Trump’s recent defeat in the Supreme Court regarding his use of emergency powers to implement tariffs. Senior U.S. officials are actively working to assuage global anxieties, providing assurances that negotiated trade pacts, including those with China, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, will not be rescinded.
In a candid interview on CBS Face the Nation, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer underscored that these existing agreements operate independently of the 15 percent global tariff plan announced by President Trump on Saturday, February 21. “We want them to understand these deals are good deals. We will keep them and we hope our partners do the same,” Greer stated, as quoted by Bloomberg on Monday, February 23. This declaration aimed to separate ongoing commitments from evolving policy initiatives.
Nonetheless, the immediate policy uncertainty triggered swift responses from trading partners. The head of the European Parliament’s trade committee indicated plans to propose suspending the ratification of the EU-US trade agreement until the Trump administration provides unequivocal policy direction. Similarly, in New Delhi, Indian officials postponed crucial trade talks with the U.S. this week, citing comparable reasons for needing greater clarity before advancing a provisional trade deal.
The Supreme Court’s decision, which invalidated the use of emergency authority for tariffs, arrived just ahead of President Trump’s scheduled visit to China next month. Greer signaled that Washington retains other powerful instruments to maintain its leverage, including ongoing investigations into various countries’ trade practices. He asserted, “We already have tariffs like this against China, and investigations are still ongoing,” indicating a multi-pronged approach to trade enforcement.
President Trump is slated to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit commencing March 31. Greer characterized the relationship between the two leaders as strong, noting that the U.S. currently applies an average 40 percent tariff on Chinese products without relying on the emergency legal basis recently overturned by the court. This highlights the administration’s determination to maintain its trade stance through alternative means.
Despite the Trump administration’s broader trade approach facing a significant setback from the Supreme Court’s ruling, anxiety persists among global trade partners, including the European Union. Greer acknowledged speaking with EU officials over the weekend and confirmed continuous communication with other major partners to provide reassurance. “Relax, I’ve spoken to them. I’ve told them for the past year, win or lose in court, tariffs will still be there and the president’s policy will continue,” Greer reportedly conveyed, suggesting a consistent, unwavering strategy regardless of judicial outcomes. He further explained that this underlying conviction was why partners had continued to sign agreements even as legal challenges unfolded.
The European Commission, meanwhile, articulated a demand for complete clarity regarding the U.S. government’s next steps. In its official statement, the EU’s executive arm emphasized that existing agreements must be respected and that the U.S. is expected to uphold its commitments made in the trade agreement signed last August. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde echoed this sentiment, stressing that clarity from the U.S. government is paramount for global trade stability. She expressed hope that any adopted policies would be thoroughly considered, constitutionally sound, and legally compliant. Concurrently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that the government maintains open lines of communication with trade partners and claimed they are content with the current tariff agreements. “These deals will not change,” he declared during a television interview, reinforcing the message of stability.
Domestically, criticism has also emerged. Republican Congressman Don Bacon, a known skeptic of tariffs who lauded the Supreme Court’s decision, argued that Trump’s new 15 percent tariff policy would be short-lived. He deemed the policy unconstitutional and detrimental from both economic and political standpoints. This new tariff is purportedly based on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which grants the president authority to impose tariffs for up to 150 days without Congressional approval under specific conditions, such as a significant balance of payments deficit.
Nonetheless, Greer firmly reiterated that U.S. trade partners should not anticipate any relaxation of tariffs as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision. He clarified that the 15 percent global tariff announced by President Trump is fundamentally equivalent to the tariffs previously implemented under emergency authority. “The reality is, we want to maintain existing policies and ensure continuity as much as possible,” Greer concluded, signaling the administration’s resolve to uphold its trade objectives and policies despite judicial and international pressures.
Summary
The U.S. government has confirmed that its crucial tariff agreements with major trading partners, including China, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, will remain in force. This assurance comes despite the Supreme Court’s recent decision invalidating President Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement certain tariffs. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that existing pacts operate independently of new tariff plans and will be upheld. U.S. officials are actively communicating with partners to alleviate anxieties and ensure continuity of trade deals.
Nonetheless, the Supreme Court’s ruling caused immediate policy uncertainty, leading the European Parliament to consider suspending trade agreement ratification and India to postpone talks. Despite this setback, U.S. officials assert that Washington retains other powerful instruments, such as ongoing investigations and existing tariffs, to maintain its trade leverage. Greer emphasized that partners should not expect a relaxation of tariffs, affirming the administration’s resolve to uphold its trade objectives and policies through alternative means.