President Donald Trump has announced Trump tariffs 15% on all goods entering the United States, escalating trade tensions just one day after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff scheme. The dramatic increase from an initially proposed 10% raises new questions for global trade partners and American businesses already grappling with economic uncertainty. The Trump tariffs 15% plan represents a significant shift in US trade policy.

From 10% to 15%: Trump's Tariff Reversal

On Friday, Trump announced he would replace the court-blocked tariffs with a 10% levy under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. But by Saturday, he reversed course on Truth Social, declaring the rate would increase to 15% - the maximum allowed under the rarely-used trade law. The Trump tariffs 15% rate was initially scheduled to take effect Tuesday, February 24th.

The about-face follows a blistering 6-3 Supreme Court decision that found Trump overstepped his presidential powers when he introduced sweeping global tariffs using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The court's ruling - which included Trump appointees Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch siding against the administration - struck down tariffs that had already collected at least $130 billion from American importers.

Trump responded with characteristic fury, calling the decision ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American and labeling the justices who rejected his policy fools. Three conservative justices - Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Samuel Alito - dissented from the ruling.

Global Trade Partners Scramble

The sudden tariff increase creates immediate complications for countries that had negotiated 10% deals with the US. The UK and Australia, among others, now face uncertain trading terms as the White House unilaterally changes the rules.

The UK government maintains it expects Britain's privileged trading position with the US to continue, calling the final tariff rate a matter for the US to determine. However, British business leaders expressed alarm. William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, warned that the president's response could be worse for British businesses.

European leaders reacted with frustration. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that the fairest possible rules involve reciprocity, not suffering unilateral decisions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the uncertainty poison for European and American economies alike, pledging to coordinate an EU response ahead of his upcoming US visit.

Winners and Losers

The Trump tariffs 15% rate creates winners and losers across the economy. The tariff chaos has created starkly divided reactions among American businesses. Drew Greenblatt, owner of Marlin Steel Wire Products in Baltimore, called the Supreme Court ruling a setback for poor people in America that had a chance to climb into the middle class with great manufacturing jobs.

But John Boyd, a Virginia soybean farmer and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, celebrated the court's decision as a huge win for me and a big loss for the president. Agricultural exporters have been particularly hard hit by retaliatory tariffs from trading partners.

The National Retail Federation, representing millions of American businesses, urged courts to ensure a seamless process for refunding the illegal tariffs to US importers. The organization called refunds an economic boost that would allow companies to reinvest in operations, their employees, and their customers.

What Happens Next

The Section 122 authority allows these tariffs to remain in place for approximately five months before requiring congressional approval - a timeline that sets up another potential confrontation between Trump and lawmakers. Some products, including critical minerals, metals, and pharmaceuticals, will be exempted from the Trump tariffs 15% levy.

Meanwhile, separate tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles - introduced using different legal authority - remain untouched by the Supreme Court ruling and continue in effect. The US trade deficit actually widened by 2.1% this week, reaching roughly $1.2 trillion, despite Trump's arguments that tariffs would reduce the imbalance.

Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell has demanded Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent detail plans for refunding the hundreds of billions of dollars collected through the now-illegal tariffs. Republicans like Senator John Kennedy suggested refund demands could backfire on Democrats, potentially creating an economic roar ahead of November's midterm elections.

For Gen Z entering the workforce, the tariff turbulence represents exactly the kind of economic unpredictability that has defined their entire adult lives. Stay informed about US political developments and global economic trends. Read more from BBC News.