USA: Supreme Court Ruling Triggers New Tariff Turmoil

The US Supreme Court has delivered a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s economic agenda, ruling that most of his emergency tariffs were unconstitutional. The 6–3 decision effectively shuts down a central component of Trump’s tariff strategy and exposes the administration to potential repayment claims of up to USD 175 billion.

Update 21 February 1800CET: Trump raises global tariffs to 15 per cent
After the US Supreme Court struck down the core of Trump’s global tariff agenda, the president moved swiftly to reassert control over his trade policy. After initially reinstating a temporary 10% global import tariff on Friday, he raised the rate to the maximum 15% the following day. Latest update from Yale The Budget Lab

The ruling sent shockwaves through Washington and global markets, amplifying uncertainty as Trump immediately announced a new temporary 10 percent global tariff set to take effect next week. Economists already warn that the legal and financial fallout could take years to resolve.

Chaotic Outlook: Businesses Face Rising Uncertainty

For many companies, the initial relief following the ruling quickly turned into disillusionment. Korean display manufacturers, Chinese LED producers and US digital signage providers now fear that trade relations could become even more complicated. After years of painstaking bilateral negotiations, the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate a large portion of Trump’s tariffs threatens to reset the playing field entirely.

Trump’s renewed attempt to reintroduce tariffs under a different legal basis only increases this sense of instability. Instead of marking the end of the trade dispute, the ruling appears to usher in a new phase of unpredictability. Companies abroad also worry that Trump will find alternative mechanisms to impose duties – potentially nullifying any benefit from the now‑revoked tariffs.

At the heart of the confusion lies the unanswered question of refunds. While the Supreme Court did not mandate repayments, it did not rule them out either. According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, the US government could theoretically owe importers as much as USD 175 billion, a scenario that observers describe as logistically overwhelming. For many businesses, especially those with thin margins, the prospect of chaotic refund processes is almost as unsettling as the tariffs themselves.

Digital Signage: A Return to Instability

For the digital signage industry, the ruling arrives at a delicate moment. The newly imposed 10 percent global tariff is set to last a maximum of 150 days – barely long enough for companies to adjust their procurement strategies. The concern is not the temporary tariff itself, but the likelihood of further shifts: new exemptions, selective hikes on components such as computers, displays or aluminium, and the possibility of additional emergency measures.

While the ProAV and Digital Signage industry was unhappy with Trump’s earlier tariff setup, at least the framework had become predictable over time. That stability is now gone. Manufacturers, integrators and network operators must once again navigate moving targets, fluctuating import costs and increased administrative overhead. In a sector heavily dependent on global supply chains – especially for displays, LEDs and media players – uncertainty acts as a direct brake on investment.

Conclusion: No End in Sight

The Supreme Court ruling may have invalidated Trump’s previous tariffs, but it has not brought clarity. Instead, it marks the beginning of a new period of trade turbulence. For the digital signage industry, 2026 is shaping up to be another year of unpredictability. Whether the temporary 10 percent tariff is replaced, expanded or scrapped entirely remains unclear. What is certain is that businesses loathe uncertainty – and in the current climate, they are getting more of it than ever.