▲ This photo, released by Reuters, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Trump-tariffs

(LEAD) Trump warns of 'much higher' tariffs for countries that want to 'play games'

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 3 paras)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump warned Monday that any country that wants to "play games" with last week's Supreme Court ruling against his administration's emergency tariffs, will face a "much higher tariff."

Trump issued the warning in a social media post after the high court ruled Friday against his use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify country-specific "reciprocal" tariffs and other duties in a major setback to his trade policy.

"Any Country that wants to 'play games' with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially those that have 'Ripped Off' the U.S.A. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"BUYER BEWARE!!!," he added.

The court ruling against IEEPA tariffs raised questions over its potential impact on bilateral trade and investment deals with trading partners, which the Trump administration has clinched using the sweeping duties as a pivotal negotiating tool.

After the ruling, Trump announced plans to impose a temporary 15 percent global tariff and undertake other trade measures under different legal provisions to maintain his tariff policy.

Trump has been leveraging tariffs to reduce America's trade deficit, boost its domestic manufacturing and foreign investments, and increase federal revenue, ahead of the midterm elections, which are seen as a crucial gauge of public sentiment toward his administration.

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