US tariffs surge 15%—Trump defies Supreme Court ruling

US slaps 15% tariff hike as legal battles and global tensions rise

A sudden 15% rise in US import tariffs has sparked global concern after President Donald Trump announced the measure on Saturday. The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that questioned his authority to impose such duties. Meanwhile, unusual weather patterns and a fuel crisis in Cuba have also made headlines this week.

The new tariffs were declared on February 21, 2026, and are set to take effect immediately or by Tuesday. Legal experts have raised doubts about their validity, as the Supreme Court recently ruled that the law used to justify previous duties does not grant the president such powers. Trump, however, maintains that a declared state of emergency gives him the right to regulate imports.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz responded swiftly, promising a united European stance and announcing plans for urgent talks in Washington. So far, no immediate impact on US trade relations has been reported in the days following the announcement.

Elsewhere, solar activity has dropped to its lowest level in two years, with the solar activity index hitting zero for the first time since April 2024. On the same day, the Russian city of Tuapse recorded a historic high of +17.2°C (63°F), breaking a long-standing daily temperature record.

In Cuba, a fuel crisis has forced the last flight carrying Russian tourists to depart from Varadero, heading back to Moscow. Meanwhile, explorer Fyodor Konyukhov has returned from a three-month expedition on Smolensk Island in Antarctica, where he collected over 100 kilograms of plastic waste.

The US tariff hike remains legally uncertain, with potential trade tensions looming as Europe prepares for negotiations. Extreme weather events and environmental efforts, such as Konyukhov's waste collection, highlight ongoing global challenges. The fuel shortage in Cuba has also disrupted travel, marking the end of Russian tourist flights from the island.