Major Uncertainty! Trump Issues Threat! Six Major Industries May Face Tariffs!

U.S. tariffs, constantly changing!

According to the latest reports from U.S. media, the U.S. government is considering imposing a new round of tariffs on six industries under the guise of “national security,” including large batteries, power grids, and telecommunications equipment.

Previously, the Trump administration had initiated Section 232 tariff reviews for nine other industries, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, drones, industrial robots, and polysilicon for solar panels. After the broad global tariff policies were overturned by the Supreme Court, the Trump administration may accelerate investigations into some industries.

Additionally, BBC reports that on the 23rd local time, President Trump threatened that if some countries “play tricks” in recent trade agreements, higher tariffs will be imposed on them.

Trump issues new threats to multiple countries

According to Global Times citing BBC, on the 23rd local time, President Trump threatened that if some countries “play tricks” in recent trade agreements, higher tariffs will be imposed on them.

On social media, Trump warned other countries not to exploit the Supreme Court’s ruling to break their trade commitments made under last year’s tariffs. “Any country trying to ‘play tricks’ using the Supreme Court’s ridiculous ruling, especially those that have ‘exploited’ the U.S. for years or even decades, will face tariffs higher and even more severe than those they just agreed to.”

BBC states that the Supreme Court’s ruling overturned most of the tariffs implemented by the Trump administration last year. When Trump issued his latest threats, many countries were assessing which tariffs and trade agreements would remain effective following the Supreme Court’s decision. The EU announced on Monday (23rd) that it would suspend approval of an agreement reached this summer; India also said it would delay negotiations aimed at finalizing recent agreements.

After taking office in 2025, the Trump administration invoked the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to issue a series of tariffs without congressional approval through executive orders, sparking a series of legal challenges domestically.

On January 20, the Supreme Court upheld lower court rulings by a 6-3 vote, ruling that Trump’s use of the IEEPA to implement tariffs exceeded his legal authority. The decision was made in lawsuits filed by businesses and 12 U.S. states, which argued that Trump’s unilateral imposition of import taxes based on this law was unprecedented.

Multiple countries in Europe and North America responded on the same day. Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the Supreme Court’s decision “solidifies Canada’s position” that these tariffs are “unjustified.” France’s Economy Minister Roland Lescure responded that the Supreme Court’s decision indicates that tariffs are “a topic that needs to be discussed.” EU Commission spokesperson Oluf Gil said, “We have taken note of this decision and will analyze it carefully.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently confirmed that starting from February 24 local time, it will cease collecting tariffs on imported goods under the IEEPA. CBP stated that this decision is based on the latest executive order signed by President Trump on the 20th, which halts the collection of ad valorem tariffs on imports related to executive orders and amendments signed between February 1 and August 6, 2025.

Considering new tariffs on six major industries

According to The Wall Street Journal, after the Supreme Court rejected several tariffs imposed during Trump’s second term last week, the Trump administration is considering imposing new tariffs on six major industries.

The report cites sources saying the proposed tariffs could cover industries such as large batteries, cast iron and iron fittings, plastic pipes, industrial chemicals, and power grid and telecom equipment. These new tariffs will be implemented separately from the recently announced global 15% tariffs.

The new tariffs are expected to be levied under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which grants the U.S. President broad authority to impose tariffs based on national security risks.

So far, products subject to Section 232 tariffs during Trump’s second term have been exempt from other tariffs. Trump has imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper, automobiles, trucks, and auto parts under Section 232, which were not affected by last week’s Supreme Court ruling.

It is currently unclear when the investigations led by the U.S. Department of Commerce will be announced or when the tariffs will be implemented. Section 232 requires lengthy investigations before tariffs are levied, but once in place, the President can unilaterally modify them.

White House spokesperson Kash Desai stated, “Protecting America’s national and economic security remains President Trump’s top priority, and the administration is committed to using all legal powers to achieve this.”

These plans follow the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling last Friday that rejected most of the tariffs imposed during Trump’s second term under the IEEPA, ruling that he exceeded his authority by imposing “reciprocal tariffs” on nearly all U.S. trading partners. These tariffs account for over half of the tariffs collected during his second term. Last week, Trump attempted to offset this revenue with a 15% global tariff.

However, the Supreme Court did not review any of Trump’s Section 232 tariffs, which have not yet faced major legal challenges. During his second term, Trump significantly expanded these tariffs, covering not only raw materials like steel, aluminum, and copper but also consumer goods made from these materials. Besides providing limited relief to U.S. automakers, he largely refused to grant tariff exemptions.

Accelerating investigations into other industries under Section 232

According to reports, besides the six industries mentioned, the Trump team is also considering expanding investigations under the existing Section 232 tariffs to nine other sectors, such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, drones, industrial robots, and polysilicon for solar panels. Many of these investigations were initiated nearly a year ago, and the recent Supreme Court ruling may accelerate some of them.

Sources say the Trump administration is also pushing to amend existing national security tariffs on steel and aluminum. These amendments could lower nominal tariffs on many products but would tax the full value of the products, not just the steel or aluminum content. This could ultimately lead many companies to pay higher tariffs.

Last week, U.S. Trade Representative Jemison Greer mentioned that the government might “adjust the way some tariffs are collected to meet compliance goals” when asked about upcoming changes.

Recently, the Supreme Court issued a ruling stating that the IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose large-scale tariffs. On the same day, the White House released an executive order signed by Trump, confirming the termination of previously imposed tariffs under the IEEPA.

On February 23, local time, FedEx filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government demanding a refund of tariffs. FedEx has filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a full refund of all tariffs collected under the IEEPA.

Court records show that over 1,000 U.S. companies have joined lawsuits demanding the return of paid tariffs, including major firms like Costco and Reebok.

(Source: Securities Times)