Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he was confident the Supreme Court would not strike down President Trump’s tariffs on imports from around the world, which he invoked in April by claiming emergency powers to protect national security.
Fox’s Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo asked Bessent what the administration’s backup plan was if the tariffs were abolished, noting that the U.S. might have to refund $200 billion in tariff revenue already collected.
“I want to say this in the strongest possible terms. I think that there are three points here, is, one, this is one of President Trump’s signature policy — signature policies,” Bessent said. “And, traditionally, the Supreme Court does not interfere with a president’s signature policy.”
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in cases challenging the tariffs, which the administration has called “reciprocal,” setting a baseline rate on imports, varying by country of origin. It could issue a ruling soon.
“I don’t think this ruling is going to go against us,” Bessent said, adding that refunding importers for the tariffs already paid is complicated because some of them might have gotten discounts already.
“Are they just going to hand some of these importers big windfalls? What if the exporters have given big discounts already, and then you’re going to give a refund on the tariffs?” Bessent said on Fox. “I don’t think the Supreme Court wants to wade into a mess like that.”