Supreme Court Again Delays Decision on Trump’s 15% Korea Tariff Ruling
Updated (2 articles)
Court postpones ruling despite scheduled public session The U.S. Supreme Court did not issue a decision on the legality of President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, even though it had announced a public session that week [1]. The Court’s website listed only a criminal case document, confirming no pre‑announcement of the tariff ruling [2]. This mirrors a similar delay reported on Jan. 9, when the Court also withheld a decision [2].
Tariffs remain at 15% under bilateral deal The Trump administration reduced tariffs on Korean goods to 15% from an earlier 25% as part of a trade‑investment pact [1][2]. Seoul pledged to invest roughly $350 billion in the United States under the agreement, linking tariff relief to massive capital inflows [2]. No change to the tariff rate has been implemented pending the Court’s ruling [1].
August appellate court found tariffs exceeded authority federal appeals court ruled in August that the tariffs, imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), exceeded presidential authority, affirming a lower‑court decision from May [1][2]. President Trump warned that overturning the tariffs would constitute a “terrible blow” to national security and could trigger compensation claims worth hundreds of billions [1][2]. The legal dispute centers on whether the IEEPA permits country‑specific tariff actions [2].
Stakeholders watch for global trade impact Business leaders, policymakers, and market observers consider the pending decision critical for U.S. trade strategy and worldwide supply chains [1][2]. A Supreme Court ruling could reshape how emergency economic powers are used and affect investor sentiment toward U.S. trade policy [2]. The uncertainty continues to influence negotiations and investment plans tied to the Korea‑U.S. deal [1].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: U.S. Supreme Court delays ruling on legality of Trump's reciprocal tariffs: Reports the Court’s Jan. 14 postponement, notes three unrelated decisions released, and emphasizes the 15% tariff rate and its link to Korean investment commitments .
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2.
Yonhap: Supreme Court holds off on ruling on legality of Trump's reciprocal tariffs: Details the Jan. 9 delay, outlines the appellate finding that tariffs exceed authority, and highlights Trump’s national‑security framing of the issue .
Timeline
May 2025 – A district court rules that President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on Korean goods exceed his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, establishing a legal baseline that the administration later contests. [2]
August 2025 – A federal appeals court affirms the May decision, holding the IEEPA‑based tariffs unlawful; President Trump warns that a loss of this power would be “the biggest threat in history to U.S. national security” and could trigger “hundreds of billions, even trillions” in compensation claims. [1][2]
Jan 9, 2026 – The U.S. Supreme Court declines to issue a ruling on the tariffs, postponing the case despite announcing a public session for the week, and leaves the 15 % tariff on Korean products in place under the $350 billion investment agreement. [2]
Jan 14, 2026 – The Supreme Court again withholds a decision on the tariff dispute, releasing rulings in three unrelated cases instead, and sustains market uncertainty about how emergency‑powers tariffs might reshape U.S. trade policy. [1]
Late Jan 2026 (planned) – The Court signals it will convene a public session later in the week but does not pre‑announce which rulings will be delivered, meaning the tariff decision could still emerge in the coming days. [1][2]