Contingency Plans in Place as Supreme Court Weighs Trump Tariffs
In a recent interview, Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, discussed the potential ramifications of the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision regarding President Donald Trump’s controversial tariffs. Speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” Hassett outlined that the White House has a plan in place should the Court rule against the administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Hassett mentioned a significant meeting held among key administration officials to deliberate on alternative strategies. “If the Supreme Court were to rule against this IEEPA tariff, what would the next step be?” he stated, signaling a proactive approach to the potential legal setback. He assured viewers that there exist “a lot of other legal authorities that can reproduce the deals we’ve made with other countries,” adding that these measures could be enacted “basically immediately.”
While optimism prevailed regarding the Court’s decision, Hassett was clear about the administration’s readiness to utilize other mechanisms to achieve its objectives if necessary. “Our expectation is that we’re going to win, and if we don’t win, then we know that we’ve got other tools that we could use that get us to the same place,” he said confidently.
In further developments, Hassett confirmed that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has been intricately involved in crafting these contingency plans. The anticipation surrounding the Supreme Court’s ruling is palpable, especially as the first decision day of 2026 recently passed without any announcement regarding the legality of Trump’s tariff policies.
Additionally, Hassett remains a notable candidate for the chair of the Federal Reserve, with current chair Jerome Powell’s term set to conclude in May. When asked about his future ambitions, Hassett expressed contentment with his current role, leaving the ultimate decision in President Trump’s hands.
As the administration braces for the Supreme Court’s decision, all eyes will be on the potential implications for U.S. trade policies, with key figures like Hassett and Greer at the forefront of navigating this critical juncture.
