Trump Raises Global Tariffs to 15%, Effective Immediately

CNBC | February 21, 2026 at 09:15 PM UTC
Bearish 86% Confidence Unanimous Agreement
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Key Points

  • The Supreme Court ruled Friday that Trump wrongfully invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to implement his previous tariff levies
  • Trump warned that additional tariffs would follow 'during the next short number of months' as his administration determines 'new and legally permissible Tariffs'
  • Uncertainty remains over implementation timing as no official documents have been confirmed signed, despite Trump's claim of immediate effect

AI Summary

Market Summary: Trump Raises Global Tariffs to 15%

Key Development:

President Donald Trump announced an immediate increase in global tariffs from 10% to 15%, effective Saturday, February 22, 2026. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his "reciprocal" tariffs one day earlier.

Critical Details:

  • The tariff hike applies universally to all countries, representing a 50% increase from the previous 10% level
  • Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits only temporary presidential tariffs requiring congressional approval for extension
  • The President warned that additional tariffs will be determined "during the next short number of months"
  • Original 10% tariffs were scheduled to take effect Tuesday, February 24, at 12:01 a.m. ET per a White House memo

Legal Context:

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that Trump wrongfully invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to implement tariffs. Trump responded by immediately pivoting to alternative trade powers under the 1974 Trade Act.

Market Implications:

  • Uncertainty remains high as official documentation of the tariff timing has not been confirmed
  • Global trade tensions escalate, affecting all trading partners simultaneously
  • Temporary nature of tariffs under Section 122 creates additional uncertainty pending congressional action
  • Trump's State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday may provide further policy clarity

Companies/Sectors Affected:

Universal impact across all sectors engaged in international trade, with import-dependent industries facing immediate cost pressures.

The abrupt policy shift and legal maneuvering following the Supreme Court decision creates significant volatility and planning challenges for businesses and investors.

Model Analysis Breakdown

Model Sentiment Confidence
GPT-5-mini Bearish 75%
Claude 4.5 Haiku Bearish 88%
Gemini 2.5 Flash Bearish 95%
Consensus Bearish 86%