EndingCertainTariffActions
DateIssued:February20,2026
Topic:Tariffs,EconomicOpportunity,GlobalAffairs
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisexecutiveorderdirectsallheadsofeachexecutivedepartmentand agencytoreviewandterminateaspecificlistofexistingtariffstoprovide targetedeconomicrelief.
TheordersimultaneouslyassertsthePresident'sauthorityunderthe InternationalEmergencyEconomicPowersAct(IEEPA)toimposenew tariffsbydeclaringthatcertaintradepracticesconstitutea"national emergency. "
ThisorderisadirectresponsetotheFebruary2026SupremeCourtruling limitingtheadministration’stariffpowersbycreatinganewframework forlevyingdutiesonimportsdeemedathreattonationalsecurityor economicstability.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
Thisexecutiveorderendscertainadditionaladvaloremduties-tariffs calculatedasapercentageofaproduct’svalue-thattheadministration imposedundertheIEEPAinresponsetopreviouslydeclarednational emergencies.Itprovidesthatthoseadditionaladvaloremdutieswillno longerapplyandwillstopbeingcollectedassoonaspracticable.
Theorderdirectstheheadsofallexecutivedepartmentsandagenciesto takethenecessarystepstoendtheseIEEPA-basedadvaloremdutiesand allowsthemtodelegatethatresponsibilitywithintheiragencies, consistentwithapplicablelaw.
TheorderalsoinstructstheSecretaryofCommerce,theSecretaryof HomelandSecurity,andtheUnitedStatesTradeRepresentative,in consultationwithU.S.CustomsandBorderProtectionandtheUnited StatesInternationalTradeCommission,todeterminewhetherupdatesto theHarmonizedTariffScheduleoftheUnitedStatesareneededandto makeanyrequiredchangesthroughpublicationintheFederalRegister.
Finally,theordermakesclearthatitdoesnotendtheunderlyingnational emergenciesorchangeothertrademeasures,includingdutiesimposed underSection232oftheTradeExpansionActof1962andSection301of theTradeActof1974.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
TheimpactofthisexecutiveorderonBlackcommunitiesisadoubleedgedsword,withpotentialforbothtargetedreliefandsignificant economicharm.
Ononehand,theselectiveremovaloftariffsoncertainconsumergoods couldprovidetargetedfinancialrelief.Becausetariffsfunctionasa regressivetax,theirremovalfromessentialitemswoulddirectlylower costsforBlackfamilies.Studieshaveshownthatthefinancialburdenof tariffsfallsmostheavilyonlower-andmiddle-incomehouseholds,a groupinwhichBlackAmericansareoverrepresented.Thiscould immediatelyimprovehouseholdpurchasingpower.
Thispotentialbenefitisovershadowedbythefargreaterthreatposedby theadministration'snewauthoritytoimposetariffsatwill.Thispower couldbeusedtolevydutiesonadifferent,widerrangeofgoods-suchas electronics,autoparts,orbuildingmaterials-dramaticallyincreasing theircost.Researchconfirmsthattariffsarepassedontoconsumers throughhigherprices,meaningBlackfamilieswouldfaceincreasedcosts forcars,appliances,andtechnology,effectivelycancelingoutany savingsandleadingtoanetdecreaseinaffordability.
Furthermore,thistradepolicycreateseconomicinstabilitythat disproportionatelyharmsBlackworkersandentrepreneurs.Multiple reportsfromtheU.S.ChamberofCommercehighlighthowtariff uncertaintydisruptssupplychainsandstiflesinvestment,creating significanthurdlesforsmallbusinesses.Thisisespeciallydamagingfor Black-ownedbusinesses,whichoftenoperatewiththinnerprofitmargins andlessaccesstocapitalthantheircounterparts,makingthem particularlyvulnerabletorisingcostsfromtariffs.IndustrieswhereBlack entrepreneursareheavilyrepresented-suchasbeauty,retail,food service,andtransportation-relyonimportedgoods,soincreasedprices canforcebusinessestoreducestaff,scalebackoperations,orclose entirely.Beyondthefinancialimpact,thesebusinessesserveas communityanchors,supportinglocalemployment,reinvestingin neighborhoods,andsustainingculturalandsocialinstitutions.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)havespokenoutagainst theTrumpAdministration’stariffpoliciesanditseffortstocreateanew frameworkforlevyingdutiesonimportsdeemedathreattonationalsecurity oreconomicstability.
InFebruary,Rep.TerriA.Sewell,ChairoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus FoundationBoardofDirectors,issuedthefollowingstatementinresponse totheSupremeCourtrulingonPresidentTrump'stariffs:“Today,the SupremeCourtaffirmedwhatmyDemocraticcolleaguesandIhavebeen arguingallalong.PresidentTrump'suseoftheInternationalEmergency EconomicPowersActtojustifyhisglobaltariffsisillegaland unconstitutional.ThepowertoregulatetradelieswithCongress.Asa memberoftheTradeSubcommitteeonWaysandMeans,Iwillcontinue toholdthispresidentaccountable,andIwillneverstopfightingtolower costsforAlabamians.Wemustreturntoasensibletradepolicythatlevels theplayingfieldforAmericanworkersandbusinesses,respectsand deepensoureconomictieswithourallies,andfocusesoncombating illegaltradepracticesfromChina.”FullStatement