The report cites people familiar with the discussions, stating that “no final decision has been made yet.” The measure, if adopted, would mark a fresh attempt to reassert tariff policy amid legal uncertainty.
The law under consideration permits the United States government to impose temporary tariffs without congressional approval, capping both the rate and the duration. According to the Journal, “President Donald Trump’s administration is considering a stopgap effort to impose tariffs on large parts of the global economy under an existing law that includes language allowing for tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days.”
This strategy is not entirely new. It’s a fallback being looked at after recent legal challenges disrupted Trump’s original approach to trade duties.Blocked tariffs prompt ‘Plan B’ thinkingTrump’s team began weighing this alternative path after a trade court ruled that the administration had overreached in its tariff authority. The court’s decision effectively blocked a significant portion of the tariffs that had defined Trump’s trade policy.
According to The Wall Street Journal, “The Donald Trump administration began considering a ‘Plan B’ after its tariff strategy was undermined when a trade court blocked the tariffs, ruling that Trump had overstepped his authority.”This ruling has pushed officials to look for legal room to manoeuvre while staying within bounds already tested by the courts.Appeals court reinstates some tariffsIn a twist, a federal appeals court stepped in on Thursday to temporarily bring back some of Trump’s previously imposed tariffs. This unexpected development has introduced fresh uncertainty into the administration’s planning process.
The Journal noted, “The administration has not made a final decision and it could wait to impose any plans after a federal appeals court on Thursday temporarily reinstated the most sweeping of Trump’s tariffs following a trade court ruling to immediately block them.”
For now, this pause could give the administration time to reconsider how and when to proceed, especially if the legal tide turns again.
Officials are still assessing their options. They may act quickly if the court rulings change again—or hold back to see how the appeals process unfolds. The administration is walking a legal tightrope as it considers how far to push tariff authority without triggering another legal block.
While tariffs have been a cornerstone of Trump’s economic agenda, this latest proposal is being framed as temporary and reactive—more a legal workaround than a broad new policy.
The path forward will depend heavily on how the courts rule in the coming weeks—and whether the White House chooses to wait or act.
(With inputs from Reuters)