Welch Welcomes Supreme Court’s Ruling Striking Down Trump’s Tariffs

Feb 20, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.),a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today welcomed the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling to strike down President Trump’s reckless, global tariffs, which were imposed illegally under theInternational Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):
“President Trump’s tariffs were unconstitutional, reckless, and a complete abuse of executive power. Trump’s trade war has created chaos and economic pain for Vermont businesses and farmers and raised taxes for hardworking families across the country. The Trump Administration’s global tariffs damaged our status as the standard-bearer of a free-market economy and our reputation as a leader in global trade. I welcome this definitive ruling by the Supreme Court, which will provide relief to America’s Main Streets and makes it clear that Congress—and Congress alone—holds the constitutional authority to regulate tariffs,”said Senator Welch.
“This decision also reflects a rejection of President Trump’s access economy, where success is dependent on who you know in his cabinet, rather than how hard you work. The next step must be doing right by Americans—including small businesses and farmers in Vermont—harmed by Trump’s economic wrongdoings,”Welch concluded.
Senator Welch is the lead sponsor of theCANADA Act, bipartisan legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. He is a proud original cosponsor of the bipartisanTrade Review Act,legislation to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy.  The Senator also supportedbipartisan legislationto restrict the executive branch’s authority to impose tariffs through theIEEPAfor Trump’s Brazil tariffs, Canada tariffs, and April 2ndGlobal tariffs; all of these measures passed the Senate with bipartisan support with themost recent votehappening this past October.
The Senator has hosted roundtables inWilliston,Stowe,Newport,St. Albans,Manchester, andvirtuallyto hear concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian businesses impacted by the trade war.
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