ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that the tariffs President Trump instituted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 are unconstitutional. The 6-3 decision includes the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs Trump levied in April 2025 on nearly every other country. These tariffs disrupted global agricultural trade and damaged the United States reputation as a reliable trading partner.

“Unnecessary trade wars caused by the President’s tariffs have helped create a crisis in farm country with farmers facing a double squeeze of low commodity prices and high input costs due to these tariffs,” said Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Gary Wertish. “Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a first step in restoring certainty in our agricultural economy and reopening markets for farmers, but it will not reverse the immense damage that has already been done. Markets will take time to reopen as we must rebuild trust as a reliable trading partner.”

In delivering the Court’s opinion, Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution specifies that ‘The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises.’ The framers recognized the unique importance of this taxing power—a power which ‘very clear[ly]’ includes the power to impose tariffs. And they gave Congress ‘alone . . . access to the pockets of the people.’”

About Minnesota Farmers Union

Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Membership is open to everyone. Learn more and join at www.mfu.org and follow MFU on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Minnesota Farmers Union—Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers (www.mfu.org).