Friday, September 11, 2026

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down tariffs imposed on Nigeria, others by Trump

The apex court held that Mr Trump erred by invoking a law reserved for national emergencies to target Nigeria and dozens of other countries worldwide.

• February 20, 2026
President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump

The United States Supreme Court on Friday struck down the global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Nigeria and several other countries using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) last year.

Twelve U.S. states, led by Oregon, and five American small businesses had filed a lawsuit against Mr Trump at the United States Court of International Trade, challenging his authority to impose tariffs of such magnitude under IEEPA.

Following judgments in favour of the litigants at the international trade and appellate courts that the president exceeded his authority in imposing the tariffs, the Trump administration filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the decision. 

In a 6-3 decision on Friday, the apex court agreed with the lower court’s earlier verdicts and subsequently struck down the sweeping tariffs, citing that Mr Trump erred by invoking a law reserved for national emergencies to target Nigeria and dozens of other countries worldwide.

“The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his judgment. “But the Trump administration ‘points to no statute’ in which Congress has previously said that the language in IEEPA could apply to tariffs.”

He added, “We hold that IEEPA does not authorise the president to impose tariffs.”

Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Samuel Alito dissented.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

African Democratic Party (ADC)

Politics

ADC urges INEC to address PVC delays in North-West

Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC spokesman, said no Nigerian should be disenfranchised by administrative delays.

APC LOGO

States

Edo APC ready for 2027 elections, state secretary says

Mr Okha said the party would begin its campaign in the coming weeks.

Kaduna State University (KASU)

States

Kaduna ‌⁠‍‍⁠⁠‌‍⁠⁠‍⁠⁠‌govt approves new salary structure for KASU lecturers

Commissioner for Education, Abubakar Sambo, said the approved package would take effect from October 2026.

Convicted Hussaini Suleiman

States

27-year-old man bags seven years in jail for raping minor in Niger

Niger State High Court sentenced Hussaini Suleiman, a 27-year-old man, for raping an eight-year-old girl.

36 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Gwagwalada Area Council

NationWide

FG reaffirms commitment to inclusive development, disability rights

“For us, disability inclusion must go beyond seeing persons with disabilities merely as beneficiaries of government and development interventions,” he said.