- ABC News
- February 20, 2026
What does the tariff ruling mean for prices?
The Supreme Court set off an economic earthquake on Friday, pushing aside most of President Donald Trump's tariffs with a ruling that could reshape everything from the price of a couch or an electronic toothbrush to the tax bill run up by some of the nation's largest corporations. The high court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPPA) does not authorize Trump to impose levies, nullifying a major swathe of country-specific tariffs issued by the president on "Liberation Day," as well as a 10% tariff placed on all imports and a host of other measures. In theory, the ruling will dial back the reach of U.S. tariffs, easing upward pressure on prices, while ending duty payments and delivering billions in tax refunds for importers, analysts said. For now, however, immense uncertainty hangs over the path forward, since tariff refunds could face legal and logistical hurdles and the Trump administration will likely seek to revive the lost tariffs under alternative...