US Supreme Court strikes DOWN Trump tarifs 6-3

[putnam6]

The Supremes just told The Presidency - "We're stronger than you."

Anyone like watching arm-wrestling matches?

The UnElecteds -vs- The Elected

This happens from time to time



just shows our checks and balances are working... 

It will be interesting to see what actually happens to that 155 billion surplus...

These cases highlight how tariffs

—often intended for revenue, protectionism, or leverage—frequently escalated into major political flashpoints.

1. Tariff of 1828 ("Tariff of Abominations") and the Nullification Crisis (1832–1833, United States)
• High protective tariffs (up to 50% on imports) favored Northern manufacturers but devastated Southern agricultural exporters reliant on cheap foreign goods and British markets.
• South Carolina, led by Vice President John C. Calhoun, declared the tariffs unconstitutional and "null and void" via the Ordinance of Nullification, threatening secession.
• President Andrew Jackson responded with the Force Bill, authorizing military action, nearly leading to armed confrontation.
• Resolved via compromise (tariff reductions in 1833), but it foreshadowed sectional divides over states' rights, federal power, and slavery—setting precedents for later secessionist arguments.
2. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (1930, United States)
• Raised duties on over 20,000 imported goods amid the early Great Depression to protect U.S. industries.
• Triggered widespread international retaliation (e.g., from Canada, Europe), collapsing global trade by ~66% and worsening the Depression.
• Became a symbol of failed protectionism, straining diplomatic relations and contributing to economic nationalism that fed into pre-WWII tensions.
3. Corn Laws (1815–1846, United Kingdom)
• High tariffs on imported grain protected British landowners and farmers but raised food prices, causing hardship for urban workers and the poor.
• Sparked intense political battles between agricultural elites (protectionists) and industrial/urban interests (free traders).
• Led to riots, the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League, and eventual repeal in 1846 under Prime Minister Robert Peel—shifting Britain toward free trade but fracturing the Conservative Party.
4. Morrill Tariff (1861, United States)
• Sharply increased protective duties shortly before Southern secession, benefiting Northern industry.
• Southern states viewed it as further evidence of Northern economic dominance and favoritism.
• While not the primary cause of the Civil War (slavery was central), it intensified North-South economic grievances and was cited in some secession debates as an example of federal overreach.
5. Chicken War / Chicken Tax (1960s, United States vs. European Economic Community)
• U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on light trucks and other goods in retaliation for EEC restrictions on U.S. poultry exports.
• Escalated into a transatlantic trade dispute, affecting auto and agricultural sectors.
• Long-term legacy: The "Chicken Tax" on light trucks remains in place today, shaping the U.S. pickup truck market.
6. Banana Wars (1993–2009, United States vs. European Union)
• U.S. challenged EU preferences for Caribbean/African bananas over Latin American ones (favoring U.S. companies like Chiquita).
• Led to multiple WTO cases, retaliatory U.S. tariffs on European luxury goods (e.g., cashmere, cheese, handbags).
• Highlighted tensions over trade preferences, colonialism's legacy, and corporate influence in trade policy.
7. U.S.-Japan Trade Conflicts (1980s, including semiconductor and auto tariffs)
• U.S. imposed tariffs and quotas on Japanese cars, electronics, and semiconductors to counter perceived "unfair" practices.
• Sparked political friction, accusations of protectionism, and retaliatory threats.
• Contributed to broader U.S.-Japan economic rivalry during Japan's rise as an economic power.
These examples show tariffs often serve as proxies for deeper issues: regional economic rivalries, federal vs. state power, class interests, or geopolitical leverage. While some (like the Corn Laws repeal) led to liberalization, others (like Smoot-Hawley) amplified crises. In the U.S., tariffs repeatedly divided North vs. South or industry vs. agriculture, influencing party politics for over a century.