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Energy, Economics & Security

Derisky Business LIVE: Supreme Court Tariff Decision

Feb 20, 2026 3:00pm ET

In a blow to the Trump administration's trade policy, the Supreme Court ruled that the president cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as a legal basis to impose tariffs. The Trump administration has relied on IEEPA tariffs as a tool of both economic and diplomatic coercion, seeking to reshape the global trading system and generate revenue for the United States.

The full implications of today's ruling remain unclear, with significant questions outstanding on what new tariffs the administration might introduce to replace IEEPA tariffs, how and whether tariff refunds will be issued, and what will happen to the trade deals signed with foreign governments in recent months.

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held an event for a rapid response Derisky Business live discussion on the trade, legal, and economic implications of this landmark decision.