On Monday, February 23, 2026, President Donald Trump issued a stern warning via Truth Social, targeting any nation that might attempt to “play games” or back away from recently negotiated trade deals following a major legal setback for his administration.
The warning comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday, February 20, that the President had exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping global tariffs.
The “Play Games” Warning
Trump’s message was directed at trade partners who might see the court’s invalidation of his original tariffs as an opportunity to renegotiate or abandon deals struck in 2025.
“Any Country that wants to ‘play games’ with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially those that have ‘Ripped Off’ the USA for years… will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to. BUYER BEWARE!!!” — Donald Trump, Feb 23, 2026.
The New 15% Global Tariff
To bypass the Supreme Court’s ruling, Trump immediately invoked a different law: Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
- The Rate Hike: Initially set at 10% on Friday, Trump increased the new global tariff rate to 15% on Saturday, February 21.
- Effective Date: These new duties took effect at 12:01 AM EST today, Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
- Statutory Limit: Under Section 122, these tariffs are limited to 150 days unless the U.S. Congress votes to extend them.
Global Reactions: Frozen Deals and Delays
Trump’s “obnoxious” new tariff strategy (as he described it) has caused immediate friction with major allies and partners:
| Partner | Current Status (Feb 24, 2026) |
| European Union | Frozen: The EU Parliament has postponed its vote to ratify the summer trade deal, seeking “urgent clarity” on whether their goods will be hit by the new 15% levy. |
| India | Delayed: Planned India-US trade talks, set to begin yesterday, were put on hold as negotiators wait for the legal dust to settle. |
| United Kingdom | Confusion: While the PM’s office stated they don’t expect the 15% tariff to apply to their existing deal, British businesses remain on high alert for collection at the border today. |
| China | Opposition: The Chinese Commerce Ministry has called for the “unilateral” measures to be canceled, warning that “there are no winners in a trade war.” |
The “License Fee” Threat
In addition to higher tariffs, Trump suggested he might impose “license fees” on trading partners—a move he claims is “fully allowed and legally tested” under authorities the Supreme Court supposedly affirmed in its ruling. Analysts view this as a potential new front in the trade war that would target the right to do business in the U.S. rather than just the goods themselves.
Despite the chaos, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer insisted over the weekend that the administration expects all partners to “stand by” their commitments and that no country has yet formally withdrawn from a signed deal.
