The Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down many of President Trump’s tariffs has sent ripples through the markets and beyond. In a 6-3 ruling, the court declared that the law underpinning these duties “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.” This legal setback for the administration was met with a swift, albeit legally questionable, response from President Trump, who announced a new 10% global levy shortly after the ruling, which he then escalated to 15% over the weekend.
This tariff saga is far from over. The Supreme Court’s ruling failed to provide clarity on whether the U.S. government will be obligated to issue refunds for tariffs already collected, a sum that could potentially exceed $175 billion, according to some estimates. Congressional Democrats and international trading partners largely welcomed the court’s decision, though the latter, including European leaders, have voiced strong criticism of Trump’s subsequent tariff hike.
The implications of this policy reversal are significant. It casts a shadow over numerous trade agreements negotiated by the Trump administration. Reports indicate that India has postponed planned trade talks with the U.S. in Washington, D.C., following the ruling. While Wall Street had anticipated the court’s decision, stocks saw a surge on Friday, contributing to a winning week for major indexes. However, futures are down this morning as investors digest the uncertainty introduced by the escalating tariff situation, with gold, a traditional safe-haven asset, climbing to a multi-week high.
**Winter Weather Disrupts Travel and Markets**
Meanwhile, a powerful blizzard has blanketed much of the Northeast, prompting widespread flight cancellations and the waiving of change fees by airlines. Over 15% of scheduled U.S. departures were canceled on Monday, complicating travel during a busy winter period. This follows the disruption caused by Winter Storm Fern in January, which significantly impacted air travel. The Transportation Security Administration has confirmed that PreCheck lanes are operating as expected, allaying concerns stemming from a previous temporary pause attributed to a partial government shutdown.
**Tech and Entertainment Sectors Under Scrutiny**
In the realm of entertainment and technology, President Trump has publicly called for Netflix to remove board member Susan Rice, issuing a veiled threat of “consequences” if the streaming giant fails to comply. Rice, previously a key figure in President Biden’s domestic policy council, had recently stated that Democrats would hold organizations accountable for aligning with Trump. This public spat occurs as the Department of Justice reviews Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Trump has stated he will not be involved in this review process.
On the artificial intelligence front, OpenAI has reportedly revised its projected compute spend downwards. The company now anticipates a total compute expenditure of approximately $600 billion by 2030, a significant reduction from its previously stated $1.4 trillion. This adjustment comes amidst concerns about OpenAI’s ability to generate sufficient revenue to justify such massive infrastructure investments. The AI startup is now forecasting revenues of over $280 billion for 2030, a substantial increase from the slightly over $13 billion it reported last year.
**Hasbro Surges Ahead in Toy Industry Rivalry**
In the toy industry, Hasbro appears to be gaining favor with investors over long-time rival Mattel. Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast division, which encompasses popular titles like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, has been a significant growth driver. The company reported a 14% increase in overall revenue for the 2025 fiscal year, with the Wizards unit seeing a remarkable 45% surge. In contrast, Mattel’s net sales declined by 1% during the same period. While Mattel’s American Girl brand is celebrating its 40th anniversary, its sales have fallen significantly from their peak, highlighting the challenges the company faces in maintaining relevance in the digital age.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/19185.html
