NEW YORK, November 6. . US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he was optimistic about the prospect of the Supreme Court reviewing the legality of many obligations imposed by the US government.
“I came out (after the trial) very, very optimistic,” he said in an interview with Fox Business after the first hearing.
Bessent was asked how Washington plans to return the proceeds in the form of taxes if the Supreme Court rules against the US administration. “I repeat, I am optimistic. <...> We will solve problems as they arise, but I am sure that we will not have to do this (returning the mandate – note by )”, the Minister replied.
Previously The Washington Post reportedthat US Supreme Court members at the hearing expressed doubts about the existence of a legal basis for US President Donald Trump's administration to impose customs duties. According to the publication, the judges spent two and a half hours in “intense interrogation” of the lawyers defending the interests of both the current administration and the plaintiffs represented by representatives of local authorities and the business community. The newspaper said the Supreme Court's skepticism about the legality of the tariffs could suggest the justices will strike down or limit at least some of Trump's tariffs.
The proceedings took place when a group of business representatives filed a lawsuit against the US government, claiming that the tariffs were illegal and harmful to their companies. On August 29, an appeals court in the District of Columbia found that Trump did not have the necessary authority to impose many of the tariffs he announced. The Trump administration on September 4 asked the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.
On April 2, Trump announced customs duties on products from 185 countries and territories. After that, the US leader changed tax rates for some states.
