Supreme Court justices sharply question Trump tariffs in hearing

If the court rules against Trump's tariffs, it could force the US to refund some of the billions it has collected.

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A majority of justices, including several conservatives, expressed doubts about the White House's justification of the import duties, which the president has said are necessary to restore America's manufacturing base and fix its trade imbalance.

The measures are being challenged by a number of small businesses and a group of states, which contend that the president has overstepped his authority in imposing the levies, which are in effect a tax.

America's top court - which has a 6-3 conservative majority - usually takes months to reach big decisions, but many expect it to move faster in this case, which is also seen as the first major test of the Trump administration's push to expand presidential power.

"And so is it your contention that every country needed to be tariffed because of threats to the defense and industrial base? I mean, Spain? France?" asked Amy Coney Barrett, who was appointed to the court by Trump.