WASHINGTON – The US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a large swath of President Donald Trump’s tariffs has weakened his ability to threaten and impose tariffs at a moment’s notice, but it won’t end gnawing uncertainty for trade partners or companies.

Trump responded within hours to the ruling on Friday, slapping a new 10% tariff on all imports and ordering new trade investigations that could lead to additional levies in months, while insisting that trade and investment deals reached with nearly 20 countries – most with higher tariffs – should remain untouched.

Less than 24 hours later, he raised the rate of the new tariff to 15% – the maximum level allowed under the law.

Wendy Cutler, a former US trade official and senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump’s rapid-fire change was emblematic of the president’s desire – and ability – to keep trading partners on their toes.

“The uncertainty, in his view, just gives him enormous additional leverage beyond the actual tariffs. Because people are worried about what he’ll do.”

But Cutler and other trade experts agree Trump’s wings have been clipped. The 10% replacement tariff lasts only 150 days, and new tariffs imposed under other statutes will take longer to implement, robbing the president of the “anytime, anywhere for any reason” cudgel he used to impose tariffs before his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act was nixed.

“He’s lost his favorite tool,” Cutler said. “Particularly for foreign policy matters and things that irk him on other countries that have nothing to do with trade, he’s lost the ability to offer a credible threat.”

William Reinsch, a former senior US government official who is now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the Supreme Court’s solid 6-3 ruling diminished Trump’s ability to threaten other countries.

“It takes away his ability to wave the big stick around,” he said, although the economic impact will be limited, with the 10% tariff and other duties expected in coming months replacing some if not all the tariffs now deemed illegal.

Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said the ruling and the administration’s response left many questions unanswered, including how importers could get refunds for duties collected illegally, and what further tariffs were still coming.

“Perhaps the most consequential impact of the Supreme Court’s decision is that it should curtail the threat or use of tariffs as the president’s preferred form of leverage or punishment outside the trade domain,” said Froman, who served as former President Barack Obama’s chief trade negotiator from 2013 to 2017.

That development could provide relief to countries scarred by Trump’s unpredictability and repeated use of tariff threats to punish them over non-trade matters, extract concessions and secure foreign investments.

The US president had invoked IEEPA to impose tariffs over a range of non-trade issues, leaving countries bruised and skittish, and heightening uncertainty for companies around the world. He threatened tariffs against European countries over their opposition to his claims on Greenland, against Canada for allowing the importation of electric vehicles from China, and against Brazil for its treatment of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally.

NO MORE ‘TRADE BAZOOKA’

Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, cautioned that it was too early to predict the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s leverage, given uncertainty about fresh tariffs and the president’s willingness to use a range of tools.

“It’s a significant blow to his international economic trade agenda. It’s not a crippling one, necessarily, because of the other authorities, but we have to see how they play out in practice,” he said. “It feels like the ‘tariff armada’ has come to the rescue despite IEEPA. But how that plays out in terms of leverage is a different question in the months ahead.”

It is also unclear what will happen to nearly 20 framework deals or firmer trade agreements that the Trump administration has reached with countries in recent months that were based on the IEEPA tariff threats.

Trump, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted on Friday that the deals should remain in effect, even if those rates were higher than the temporary universal tax.

Analysts said they doubted countries could seek to abrogate or renegotiate deals, out of concern of triggering Trump’s ire.

Miriam Sapiro, a former senior US trade official and adjunct professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, said Trump might have lost his “trade bazooka,” but she didn’t expect the existing deals to unravel. However, the ruling could give countries more leverage in new or ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration, Sapiro said.

“There’ll still be interest in doing deals because of the uncertainty and the desire to keep the US as a strong ally and strong partner,” she said. “But countries do have a bit more bargaining power than they might have felt they had previously.”

From Trump’s perspective, she said, using IEEPA was a risk he was willing to take because it helped reel in some trade deals quickly, although details still needed to be worked out in some cases and enforcement could be challenging.

Greer told Fox News’ “Special Report” program that IEEPA was the appropriate tool at the time, given Trump’s desire to move quickly and flexibly, and said it had helped open market access for US firms. “We don’t regret it,” he said. “We’ll just use a different tool.”

Initial reactions from overseas were measured as countries assessed the Supreme Court decision. South Korea said it would review the ruling and US response and planned to continue “amicable” talks over implementation of a tariff agreement finalized in November with $350 billion in investment pledges.

Tom Ramage, an economic policy analyst at the Korea Economic Institute of America, said the Trump administration’s continued ability to tap other tariff measures would likely persuade South Korea and its companies to maintain their commitments.

“Anything less could increase the likelihood that the president will impose further retaliation, especially if the administration seeks to make an example of countries that want to back out of negotiated deals,” he wrote on KEI’s website. — Reuters

WITHIN hours of the killing of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, better known as El Mencho, in a military raid on Sunday, gunmen suspected to be his supporters blocked highways across several states and set cars and businesses ablaze.

In some towns tourists and residents were urged to stay indoors, while truckers were advised to take safe routes or return to their depots until the violence abated.

Several airlines, including Air Canada, United Airlines, and Aeromexico, on Sunday cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta, a beachside resort town where stunned tourists filmed plumes of smoke rising into the sky from fires.

The burst of violence across more than half a dozen states painted a familiar scene for Mexicans who have spent two decades watching successive governments wage war on drug cartels, ravaging broad swaths of the country.

A member of Mr. Oseguera’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel told Reuters that the blazes and sporadic gunfire were carried out in revenge for the government’s killing of Mr. Oseguera, and warned of further bloodshed as groups move to take control of his cartel.

“The attacks were carried out in revenge for the leader’s death, at first against the government and out of discontent,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“But later the internal killings are coming, by the groups moving in to take over.”

In Mexico’s Pacific coast, a five-hour drive from the military operation in the town of Tapalpa that took down the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, stunned beachgoers on a pier in Puerto Vallarta took out their cell phones to film thick waves of smoke obscuring blue ocean views, showed a video shared with Reuters.

Daniel Drolet, a Canadian who has wintered in Puerto Vallarta for years, said in a phone interview that he was concerned of a new era of violence taking root in the typically placid resort zone.

“I have never seen anything like this before,” he said.

In the state of Jalisco, authorities reported that gunmen had attacked a base for the National Guard military police, and recommended guests remain inside hotels and suspended public transit.

Other scenes of criminal activity and military response were captured in videos shared by government security sources with Reuters: A green military tank made its way through a residential neighborhood in the state of Aguascalientes. Roadblocks paralyzed the highly transited Mexico-Puebla highway. In the state of Colima, cartel members standing in pick-up trucks blocked a road.

A trucking industry group said in a statement it was “profoundly worried” by the highway violence and recommended that truckers keep to safe areas or return to their operating yards until conditions improved.

The state of Guanajuato, a CJNG stronghold, reported 55 incidents across 23 municipalities, with 18 arrests, but said by evening all incidents were under control.

Carlo Gutierrez, who lives in Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital, said that friends on WhatsApp groups were encouraging people to stay home.

“There is fear and a lot of caution,” he said of the city, one of three main Mexican venues for World Cup soccer matches this summer.

VIOLENCE IN WAKE OF CARTEL ARRESTS, KILLINGS
Authorities have not reported any casualties beyond several cartel members and officials killed during the military operation.

Previous cartel arrests and killings have led to outbreaks of violence – whether by members avenging their fallen leader or rival gangs muscling in on their territory – prompting Mexican authorities to hesitate before launching major campaigns.

In 2019, Ovidio Guzman, a son of Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was detained but quickly released, setting off widespread gun battles. His arrest in 2023 set off more violence.

The 2024 arrest of Sinaloa Cartel boss Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada triggered a bloody power struggle in the criminal group that continues unabated more than a year later.

“I’m watching the scenes of violence from Mexico with great sadness and concern,” said US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who previously served as ambassador to Mexico, in a post on social media.

“It’s not surprising that the bad guys are responding with terror. But we must never lose our nerve.”

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum in a social media post acknowledged the violence, but struck a tone of calm.

“In most of the national territory activities are happening with absolute normalcy,” she said. — Reuters

VERONA, Italy — Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Verona a few hours before the Olympics closing ceremony to protest against housing costs and environmental concerns linked to the Winter Games.

The rally, “Olympics? No thanks”, was organized by university groups and associations that oppose hosting an event they say disrupts forests, pours concrete onto fragile land and deepens social inequality.

“We are here to defend our territory from speculation… and from the impossible cost of attending events,” said Giannina Dal Bosco, a 76‑year‑old activist.

Tickets for the ceremony were priced from 950 euros ($1,120) to a top level of 2,900 euros. It started at 8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) inside Verona’s ancient Roman arena.

One banner read: “Fewer Games for the few, more homes for everyone.”

Francesca, 34, who traveled from Vicenza, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) away, said the landscape had been “disfigured” by new Olympic structures.

“They built concrete monstrosities like the bobsleigh track, which will serve no purpose,” she said. “Public money has been wasted that could have been used for hydrogeological safety and housing plans.”

Several protesters wore keffiyeh scarves and waved Palestinian flags.

Protesters marched for around two hours outside the security perimeter, from the 16th‑century Porta Palio to the 19th‑century Arsenal Square.

They briefly stopped at the point closest to the red zone, unsuccessfully asking to be allowed inside. Before the march moved on, activists painted the words “FIVE CIRCLES, A THOUSAND DEBTS” in large letters on the road.

Verona’s mayor Damiano Tommasi said high‑profile events such as the Olympics always carried the risk of people seeking visibility and trying to exploit the moment, and that it was appropriate to deploy a heightened level of security.

A much larger demonstration — drawing nearly 10,000 people — took place in Milan on the first day of the Games and later turned violent. ($1 = 0.8482 euros). — Reuters

DUBAI — Iran has indicated it is prepared to make concessions on its nuclear program in talks with the US in return for the lifting of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, as it seeks to avert a US attack.

Both sides remain sharply divided — even over the scope and sequencing of relief from crippling US sanctions — following two rounds of talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

However, Reuters is reporting for the first time that Iran is offering fresh concessions since their talks ended last week, when the sides appeared far apart and heading closer to military conflict. Analysts say the move suggests Tehran is trying to keep diplomacy alive and stave off a major US strike.

The official said Tehran would seriously consider a combination of sending half of its most highly enriched uranium abroad, diluting the rest and taking part in creating a regional enrichment consortium – an idea periodically raised in years of Iran-linked diplomacy.

Iran would do this in return for US recognition of Iran’s right to “peaceful nuclear enrichment” under a deal that would also include lifting economic sanctions, the official said.

In addition, Iran has offered openings for US companies to participate as contractors in Iran’s large oil and gas industries, the official said, in negotiations to resolve decades of dispute over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

“Within the economic package under negotiation, the United States has also been offered opportunities for serious investment and tangible economic interests in Iran’s oil industry,” the official said.

The White House did not respond immediately to queries on the issue.

Washington views enrichment inside Iran as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and wants its right to enrich uranium to be recognized.

Iran and the United States resumed negotiations earlier this month as the US builds up its military capability in the Middle East. Iran has threatened to strike US bases in the region if it is attacked.

The Iranian official said the most recent discussions underscored the gap between the two sides, but stressed that “the possibility of reaching an interim agreement exists” as negotiations continue.

IRAN SEEKS ‘LOGICAL TIMETABLE’ FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS
“The last round of talks showed that US ideas regarding the scope and mechanism of sanctions relief differ from Iran’s demands. Both sides need to reach a logical timetable for lifting sanctions,” the official said.

“This roadmap must be reasonable and based on mutual interests.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday he expects to meet with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday, adding there is still “a good chance” of a diplomatic solution.

Mr. Araqchi said on Friday that he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days, while Mr. Trump said he was considering limited military strikes.

Citing officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe, Reuters reported on Friday that Tehran and Washington are sliding rapidly towards military conflict as hopes fade for a diplomatic settlement.

On Sunday, Mr. Witkoff said the president was curious as to why Iran has not yet “capitulated” and agreed to curb its nuclear program.

“Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven’t they come to us and said, ‘We profess we don’t want a weapon, so here’s what we’re prepared to do’? And yet it’s sort of hard to get them to that place,” Mr. Witkoff said on Fox News.

READINESS TO COMPROMISE ON NUCLEAR WORK
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Iran’s leadership is seeking to buy time via the talks.

“Iran will use that time for various reasons, including to avoid a strike and to harden nuclear, missile, and military facilities,” he said.

While rejecting a US demand for “zero enrichment” – a major sticking point in past negotiations – Tehran has signalled its readiness to compromise on its nuclear work.

Washington has also demanded that Iran relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU). The International Atomic Energy Agency last year estimated that stockpile at more than 440 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, a small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade.

Ali Larijani, a close adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, told Al Jazeera TV that Iran was ready to allow extensive IAEA monitoring to prove it is not seeking nuclear weapons.

The agency has been calling on Iran for months to allow for inspection of three nuclear sites that were struck by the US in June last year at the close of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Since then, Tehran has said its uranium enrichment work has stopped.

Satellite images show that Iran has advanced work at a location reportedly bombed by Israel last year, recently building a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covering it in soil, experts say.

BENEFITS FOR BOTH SIDES
Among US demands are restrictions on Tehran’s long-range ballistic missiles and an end to its support for regional proxy groups.

Iran has flatly rejected discussing its missiles, while sources have told Reuters, without elaborating, that “the issue of regional proxies is not a red line for Tehran”.

Iranian authorities have said that a diplomatic solution would provide economic benefits for both Tehran and Washington.

The Iranian official said Tehran would not hand over control of its oil and mineral resources.

“Ultimately, the US can be an economic partner for Iran, nothing more. American companies can always participate as contractors in Iran’s oil and gas fields.” — Reuters