Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs 6-3. Tech stocks rally, but will prices drop?
Source: Mashable Tech
Amazon, Apple, NVIDIA, and Dell stocks rallied after the Friday afternoon decision.
The Supreme Court struck down one of President Donald Trump’s signature accomplishments on Friday, ruling 6‑3 that the president lacked the authority to impose many of his tariffs.
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has tested the boundaries of executive power, and the Supreme Court decision was a clear check on presidential authority. In response to the ruling, Trump pledged to impose a new 10 percent global tariff via executive order, citing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the statute would allow him to impose the tariffs for 150 days, after which they would need congressional approval). A defiant Trump insisted, “I have the right to do tariffs,” according to CNBC.
President Trump appears at the “Make America Wealthy Again” event at the White House.
Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Published on February 20, 2026
Court Opinion
Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. issued the court’s opinion, finding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) does not give the president authority to impose tariffs unilaterally. Roberts was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson; Brett M. Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito Jr. dissented.
“The Framers gave ‘Congress alone’ the power to impose tariffs during peacetime,” Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. “And the foreign‑affairs implications of tariffs do not make it any more likely that Congress would relinquish its tariff power through vague language, or without careful limits. Accordingly, the President must ‘point to clear congressional authorization’ to justify his extraordinary assertion of that power.”
The ruling ends a year‑long legal saga over the tariffs, which faced lawsuits and challenges from the outset. The Constitution clearly grants Congress, not the president, the authority to set tariffs, and Trump’s legal justification for his sweeping emergency tariffs has always been sketchy.
Market Reaction
Tech stocks began to rally on Friday afternoon following the ruling, with Apple, Amazon, NVIDIA, and Dell climbing, according to Barron’s. However, the overall gains have been modest so far.
As Mashable has reported, President Trump’s tariffs have led to wide‑ranging price increases across industries, affecting lumber, building supplies, gaming consoles, and smartphones. Apple CEO Tim Cook estimated in August that Apple faced $1.1 billion in tariff costs in Q2 2025 alone.
Expert Commentary – “Tariff Relief Won’t Be Immediate”
Cost increases for 2026 products are already baked in, as companies like Apple were forced to shift manufacturing to new markets to try to evade tariffs.
Ravin Gandhi, CEO of GMM Non‑stick Coatings and a tariff expert, told Mashable that shoppers should not expect any immediate price relief.
“Consumers shouldn’t see meaningful price relief soon. Tariffs were just one piece in the overall pricing structure — and businesses don’t typically lower prices immediately when a cost input disappears — especially with so much inflationary pressure,” Gandhi said.
“Even though the ruling is legally significant, the short‑term economic impact may not happen as fast as the headlines are suggesting.”
On top of inflation and tariff‑related price increases, an ongoing global memory shortage fueled by the AI industry is also putting upward pressure on tech prices.
Gandhi added that reinstating the tariffs could also take time:
“It’s very unlikely that Congress will move quickly to reinstate tariffs. Trade policy through Congress is really complex and difficult to do politically — especially with everything being so divided nowadays. Even lawmakers who support the tariffs may start hesitating when it comes to that ownership of the legislative piece.”
He concluded:
“The most likely scenario is a modified status quo. Markets and supply chains have already adjusted to the tariff framework over several years. Even with the Court’s recent decision, companies will wait for clarity before making significant pricing changes.”
Trump’s Reaction on Truth Social
On his social network Truth Social, the president called the ruling “deeply disappointing” and accused the Supreme Court of being “swayed by Foreign Interests.” He labeled Roberts and the justices who joined the majority opinion “lapdogs” and a “Disgrace to our Nation.”
“I am ashamed of certain Members of the Court for not having the Courage to do what is right for our Country. I would like to thank and congratulate Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh for your Strength, Wisdom, and Love of our Country, which is right now very proud of you. … The Democrats on the Court are thrilled, but they will automatically vote ‘NO’ against ANYTHING that makes America Strong and Healthy Again. … It is my opinion that the Court has been swayed by Foreign Interests, and a Political Movement that is far smaller than people would think — but obnoxious, ignorant, and loud!”
Credit: @realDonaldTrump on Truth Social
About the Author
Timothy Beck Werth – Tech Editor, Mashable
Tim leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. He has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, covering consumer technology, smart‑home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Formerly Managing Editor and Site Director of SPY.com, he has also written for GQ, The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.
- Studied print journalism at the University of Southern California
- Splits his time between Brooklyn, NY, and Charleston, SC
- Currently working on his second novel, a science‑fiction book
Share
You May Also Like
(section reserved for related articles)
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16 + and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.