The Supreme Court on Nov. 5 will debate the future of the worldwide tariffs President Donald Trump has used to raise revenue, spur manufacturing and exert political pressure on other countries. The tariffs are the centerpiece of Trump’s economic agenda and a major foreign policy tool.
Here’s a visual look at the significance of the case for the economy, the federal budget and consumers:
The Supreme Court has said in recent years that the executive branch can’t take actions that have a major impact on the economy or are a matter of great “political significance” without clear authorization from Congress.
A lower court that found Trump lacked clear authority to impose sweeping tariffs noted that their economic impact is much greater than the cost of policies the high court blocked during the administration of President Joe Biden, including student loan debt relief.
Here’s how the size of the tariffs compares with the debt relief plan the court rejected in 2023:
