#TrumpNewTariffs Recent Tariff Developments (February 2026)
New 15% Global Tariff: On 21 February 2026, Trump signed an executive order under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a 15% surcharge on all imports.
Supreme Court Setback: The new action was a response to a 6-3 Supreme Court decision on 20 February 2026, which ruled that the administration's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally impose broad tariffs was unconstitutional.
Legal "Workaround": The Section 122 authority allows the President to address "fundamental international payments problems" for up to 150 days without initial Congressional approval.
The crypto market has historically shown high sensitivity to Trump's tariff announcements, though it has recently displayed increased resilience.
Short-Term Volatility:
February 2026: Bitcoin $BTC initially dipped following the 15% tariff announcement but quickly recovered, trading near $68,000. Ethereum $ETH remained relatively steady around $1,987.
Historical Crashes: In October 2025, a threat of 100% tariffs on China triggered the "largest liquidation event in crypto history," with $19.13 billion in losses as BTC dropped over 8% in hours.
Macroeconomic Drivers:
Risk Sentiment: Investors often treat crypto as a "risk-on" asset, selling it alongside equities during periods of trade-induced economic uncertainty.
Dollar Strength: Tariffs can strengthen the U.S. dollar in the short term, which historically puts downward pressure on BTC prices.
Mining Costs: High tariffs on Chinese hardware (like ASICs) have increased operational costs for U.S. miners like Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms.
Contradictory Long-Term Views: While tariffs cause short-term panics, some analysts believe they could eventually boost crypto if they lead to dollar devaluation or if the administration continues its pro-crypto initiatives, such as the proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve