{"id":173102,"date":"2026-02-20T17:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/173102\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T17:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:00:09","slug":"supreme-court-shuts-down-trump-tariffs-which-had-outsize-impact-on-san-antonio-and-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/173102\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court shuts down Trump tariffs, which had outsize impact on San Antonio and Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PresidentPresident Donald Trump speaks at a White House press briefing. Credit: Shutterstock \/ Joshua Sukoff<\/p>\n

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday morning that President Donald\u2019s Trump\u2019s tariffs policies are unconstitutional, dealing a major blow to the president\u2019s economic agenda and easing pressure on San Antonio and other Texas communities that rely heavily on foreign trade. <\/p>\n

The 6-3 decision turns back tariffs Trump unilaterally imposed under an emergency powers law, including sweeping \u201creciprocal\u201d trade penalties slapped on nearly every country, including key U.S. allies and trading partners. The court\u2019s majority ruled that the U.S. Constitution \u201cvery clearly\u201d gives Congress the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. <\/p>\n

As Trump unveiled his tariff plans, economists warned that Texas would face severe economic consequences, including job losses, diminished consumer buying power and cuts to its gross product. The tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China alone had the potential to kill more than 400,000 jobs in the state, economic consultancy The Perryman Group found last March<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Among Texas cities, the San Antonio faced especially high economic penalties. <\/p>\n

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce identified the Alamo City<\/a> as the U.S. metro facing the most damage from Trump\u2019s tariffs on the nation\u2019s northern neighbor. Nearly half of our city\u2019s exports \u2014 $6 billion in goods, from trucks to farm equipment to aircraft \u2014 go to the Canadian market.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s Supreme Court ruling is an affirmation that the president is not above the law,\u201d U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said in an emailed statement. \u201cCongress has constitutional authority over tariffs, and I am glad to see the highest court uphold this. San Antonians and families across the country deserve lower costs, not reckless trade wars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Joaquin Castro delivered a speech on the U.S. House floor supporting a resolution that would end Trump\u2019s tariffs on Canada. That measure ultimately passed and now heads to the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n

\u201cNearly half \u2014 48% \u2014 of San Antonio\u2019s exports go to Canada, the highest share of any major city in the country. Our economy is deeply tied to North American supply chains,\u201d he said. \u201cThousands of San Antonians work in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, energy machinery, semiconductors and medical devices \u2014 exactly the high-paying industries we want to be growing here in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the Supreme Court\u2019s action on Friday, Trump critics were quick to point out that the ruling won\u2019t immediately remedy the damage for small businesses and households, since prices won\u2019t come immediately and consumers may never see the savings passed on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile finally stopping Trump\u2019s abuse of one law, the Supreme Court cannot undo the real damage that abuse has already inflicted on American families and small businesses,\u201d U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said in an emailed statement. <\/p>\n

\u201cTrump\u2019s \u2018Liberation Day\u2019 may be over, but prices driven up by his reckless tariff taxes will not suddenly come down,\u201d the congressman added.\u00a0\u201cNor are those ultimate consumers, who have already paid for tariffs with higher prices, assured any benefit. Any refunds go to corporations, some of whom will pocket a windfall if they have already passed on tariff costs to consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n

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