US President Donald Trump said Saturday he is increasing the new global tariff rate from 10% to 15%, effective immediately.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the higher tariff would apply to countries he believes have treated the United States unfairly for years. He added that the 15% rate is “fully allowed” and has been legally tested.
The announcement comes after the US Supreme Court recently ruled that Trump could not use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs. In response, Trump has turned to other laws — including the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and the Trade Act of 1974 — to keep tariffs in place.
However, critics argue that those laws also limit his authority. Pro-crypto lawyer Adam Cochran said the rules only allow tariffs on countries where the US has a trade deficit, and only for up to 150 days, with limits on how high the tariffs can go.
In recent months, new tariff announcements have shaken financial markets, causing sharp drops in stocks and cryptocurrencies and increasing worries about the economy.
This time, however, crypto markets remained steady.
Bitcoin stayed near the $68,000 level with little movement following the news. Ether also showed almost no change. The broader crypto market, measured by the Total3 index, fell by less than 1% and remained around $713 billion.
The muted reaction suggests investors may be waiting for more clarity on how long the tariffs will remain in place and whether further legal challenges could limit the president’s actions.
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