After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump's reciprocal and fentanyl tariffs unlawful, analysts said the tariff policy has collided with November's midterm elections.
Trump imposed 15% tariffs immediately following the ruling, but these require congressional approval after 150 days. With midterm elections looming in November, observers predict neither Democrats nor Republicans will easily vote in favor come August.
According to The Hill, some Republican lawmakers welcomed the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision that Trump's broad import tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) supported the Supreme Court decision and said lawmakers should also block Trump's new global tariff measures. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) also welcomed the ruling as "reaffirming the principle of separation of powers." All three had previously voted for a House resolution opposing Trump's Canada tariffs, joining six Republican dissenters.
Reuters noted the ruling marks a complete defeat for Trump, unlike previous cases where the court largely sided with him. The Supreme Court had ruled favorably for Trump in 24 of 28 related cases, according to Reuters.
However, analysts say this ruling was based strictly on legal grounds rather than the Trump administration's policy intentions for the national economy. Three conservative justices joined three liberal justices in finding the tariffs unlawful.
Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told the Seoul Economic Daily in an email interview: "This ruling recognizes equal standing among major U.S. institutions and Congress's authority over trade, pushing back against an imperial presidency."
Some suggest Trump, now politically defensive, may seek wins in diplomacy and security, including North Korea negotiations. Cha said: "Trump may look for other achievements to offset losses from the Supreme Court ruling. He could become more active in negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un."