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By Joshua Scheer
This latest trip down the tariff rabbit hole was sparked by a Common Dreams report featuring new videos from the nonprofit advocacy group Tariffs Cost US, which has launched an ad campaign warning that Trump’s sweeping tariffs are driving up holiday-season prices on food, gifts, and everyday essentials. This, in turn, led to reading about the Supreme Court and Trump’s tariff plans. Here is a small sample of the ad that started this ball rolling.
In the president’s call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday — the first call since the tariffs went into effect — they discussed China’s purchases of U.S. soybeans, Taiwan and planning reciprocal visits to both countries, one set for next April. This, as the White House is trying to project stability amid growing pressure over tariffs as we enter the holiday season.
Following Democratic gains in recent elections in early November, President Trump has begun to acknowledge that Americans are paying part of the cost of his tariffs. He didn’t go so far as to admit the tariffs are harmful, but when asked whether Americans were footing the bill, reported in Reuters, he said:
“No, I don’t agree. I think that they might be paying something. But when you take the overall impact, the Americans are gaining tremendously.”
By Monday, however, he doubled down again, insisting the “full benefit” of the tariffs would soon materialize, arguing that foreign buyers who stockpiled goods would eventually be forced to purchase more U.S. products. He wrote on his truth social account
“Tariffs will be paid on everything they apply to, without avoidance, and the amounts payable to the USA will SKYROCKET.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is preparing to rule on the legality of these tariffs. As the Brennan Center notes, the central question is whether a president can impose sweeping tariffs under emergency powers — specifically the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) — without direct authorization from Congress. And if the Court upholds this use of IEEPA, would it not open the door to future “emergencies,” real or manufactured, allowing presidents to claim broad unilateral authority over trade and potentially sidestep Congress entirely?
Because of this possibility, the White House is expected to work to maintain these tariffs at all costs, with Fortune quoting Cato’s Scott Lincicome,
“It’s no surprise that the administration is preparing a backup plan… My expectation is they’ll move immediately to reinstate them… They’re going to basically piece it all back together.”
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) chimed in, saying
“After months of increasing grocery prices, Donald Trump is finally admitting he was wrong,” and adding “Americans are literally paying the price for Trump’s mistakes.”
Back in April, Warren pressed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on exactly these consequences, warning that early signs of consumer pain were already visible.
The tariff battle is far from finished. With the Supreme Court weighing in and Trump standing firm, this is a story we’ll be tracking every step of the way, as bills are getting higher and wages aren’t keeping up.
Thanks for reading.
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