President Trump threatens countries with steeper duties and new fees as global markets react to trade policy uncertainty.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump warned countries on Monday against abandoning recent trade deals with the US following a Supreme Court ruling against his emergency tariffs. He threatened to impose much higher duties using other legal authorities.

In social media posts, Trump stated any nation attempting to “play games” would face steeper tariffs. He also suggested the potential for new license fees on trading partners, though he provided no specifics.

“Any Country that wants to ‘play games’… will be met with a much higher Tariff,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He argued the court’s decision affirmed his power to levy tariffs in a “much more powerful and obnoxious way.”

READ MORE: Trump raises US global tariff to 15% after court defeat

The Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. However, the ruling acknowledged the president’s tariff authority under different statutes.

In response, the Trump administration announced a new temporary 15% duty on imports from all countries, set to take effect early Tuesday. US Customs will simultaneously stop collecting the tariffs invalidated by the court.

The European Parliament postponed a vote to ratify its trade deal with the US following the new tariff announcement. The EU-US pact would have imposed a 15% US tariff on most EU goods, with exemptions for certain items.

Wall Street stocks fell as the renewed trade uncertainty unnerved investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.34%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each fell 0.65%.

The US dollar index also declined 0.2% against major currencies. The path for several US trade deals remains unclear, with China urging tariff removal and India delaying planned talks.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated the administration expects to open new unfair trade investigations against several countries. This legal step could pave the way for further tariff threats.

Trump used his posts to criticise the justices who ruled against him, including two of his own appointees. The court’s decision reasserted its power to check presidential authority.

The president also expressed concern the court might rule against his administration’s bid to restrict birthright citizenship in a forthcoming case.

 The Sun Malaysia