UPDATE: THE SUPREME COURT JUST RULED TRUMP’S TARIFFS ILLEGAL.

Here’s everything you need to know.

The Supreme Court says Trump overstepped his authority using the 1977 IEEPA law to impose tariffs.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion.

Even two conservative justices, Gorsuch and Barrett, sided against the White House.

Roberts put it bluntly: the president claimed “extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration and scope.” The Court said NO.

Lower courts already rejected this twice. Now the highest court in the country just confirmed it.

This is the biggest separation of powers case since Truman tried to seize the steel mills in 1952.

Here’s what happens next:

1. REFUNDS. Over $175 billion in tariff revenue collected under IEEPA is now potentially owed back to U.S. importers. Penn-Wharton estimates put the number at $175-179B. That’s a MASSIVE fiscal hit.

2. The refund process won’t be fast tho. Over 1,000 cases are already filed with the Court of International Trade. Trade attorneys are saying this could take 1-2 years to fully unwind. Trump himself said it would be “a complete mess.”

3. The White House already has a backup plan ready. Bessent said it publicly: they’ll reimpose tariffs within 24 hours using different legal authorities. Section 301 and Section 122 of the Trade Act are the likely tools. Different legal wrapper, same trade war.

4. But here’s the catch: Those replacement tariffs have limits. Section 122 caps duties at 15% for only 150 days. Section 301 requires country-by-country investigations. Neither gets them back to the 10-50% IEEPA levels quickly.

5. Markets are about to reprice everything. The effective U.S. tariff rate could drop from ~20% to ~9% if replacements don’t materialize fast. That’s still way above the ~2% rate before Trump’s second term, but a massive shift from where we’ve been.

6. Consumer impact is real. The Tax Policy Center estimates households save ~$1,200 in 2026 if IEEPA tariffs stay gone. New York Fed research showed Americans were paying 90% of these tariff costs directly.

7. Don’t forget the customs bond market. Billions in bond collateral and surety payments are also on the line for refunds. Insurance companies are about to have a very interesting quarter.

Final verdict: The tariffs are dead legally, but the trade war isn’t over. The administration will pivot fast. Watch for new executive actions within days, not weeks.

This is the most consequential economic ruling in DECADES.