Treasury Secretary Expresses Confidence in Supreme Court Backing Trump's Tariff Move
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Sunday that he believes it is very unlikely the Supreme Court will overturn President Donald Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on several countries. A potential ruling on this matter could come as early as this week.
"I believe that it is very unlikely that the Supreme Court will overrule a president's signature economic policy," Bessent told NBC News. "They did not overrule Obamacare. I believe that the Supreme Court does not want to create chaos."
Legal Basis and Immediate Impact
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This law grants the President broad authority to deploy economic tools in response to what it defines as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to national security.
President Trump invoked these powers to impose duties on multiple nations. The new tariffs specifically target goods from several European countries. They are set to start at 10% on February 1 and will increase to 25% on June 1.
The list of affected countries includes:
- Denmark
- Norway
- Sweden
- France
- Germany
- The United Kingdom
- The Netherlands
- Finland
Greenland at the Center of the Dispute
Bessent's comments followed an announcement by President Trump about a new set of tariffs on European goods. Trump directly linked these tariffs to his ambition for the United States to purchase Greenland. He warned the tariffs would remain in place until "a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland." Trump did not specify which legal statute he was invoking for this particular declaration.
President Trump has long sought to acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. He has significantly increased pressure for a U.S. takeover in recent weeks. However, leaders in Greenland, Denmark, and across Europe have firmly and repeatedly rejected the idea.
National Security Justification and European Backlash
Secretary Bessent defended the tariffs as a strategic national security measure, not merely an economic tool. "The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency," he argued. "It is a strategic decision by the president ... he is able to use the economic might of the U.S. to avoid a hot war."
European leaders from the targeted nations issued a strong joint statement in response on Sunday. They condemned the tariff threats, stating they "undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral." The leaders pledged a united and coordinated response.
The statement expressed "full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland." It added, "Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind."
This escalating trade and diplomatic dispute places the U.S. Supreme Court in a pivotal position. The Court's impending decision on the legality of the President's emergency powers will have immediate consequences for international relations and global trade dynamics.
