Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday there are other options if he loses, as the Supreme Court prepares to hear President Donald Trump’s landmark tariff case.
The high court is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on whether President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by enacting sweeping tariffs against U.S. trading partners.
At issue is the president’s ability to use trade measures as an economic policy tool. In an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Bessent expressed confidence that his administration will win but has further tools in place in case the decision goes in the opposite direction.
“There are many other authorities available, but IEEPA is by far the cleanest and gives the United States and the president the most negotiating power,” he said. “Others are more cumbersome, but effective.”
Specifically, Mr. Bessent cited Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which provides for national security-based justifications, and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which regulates unfair trade practices.
However, the ability of presidents like Trump to impose tariffs based on “emergency” will be limited.
“This is very important tomorrow and SCOTUS will hear this,” Bessent said, referring to the court’s nickname. “This is a signature policy of the president, and traditionally SCOTUS does not like to interfere with these signature policies.”
Outside of court, he also spoke about the White House’s relationship with China following last week’s meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The agreement reached at the South Korean meeting resulted in a deal that would remove some of the most onerous tariffs the two countries had imposed on each other.
“It was a very good meeting. There was a lot of respect on both sides,” Bessent said. “I think President Trump is the only leader that President Xi respects. …The relationship is good.”
Bessent said two state visits are planned for 2026, one to Beijing and the other to the United States.
