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A UTRGV professor says President Donald Trump’s new 10% global tariffs could have a minor impact on university needs, such as lab equipment and technology.
On Feb. 20, the U.S Supreme Court announced many of the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful.
After the court struck down President Donald Trump’s IEEPA tariff actions, he quickly imposed a temporary 10% global tariff. The action is under the Trade Act of 1974, section 122.
On a Feb. 21 Truth Social post, Trump threatened to raise the level to 15%.
Political Science Professor Douglas Brattebo said the president does not have the legal authority to impose global tariffs and it would require congressional approval.
“There are some instances where congress gives the president the power to act in matters of trade, but it does take legislation,” Brattebo said. “Typically, when congress does that, it will not only provide the legislation authorizing the president to take certain enumerated actions, but it would also attach the condition that it really only is possible or allowed during emergency circumstances.”
Brattebo explained the meaning of tariffs and how they impact the country’s economy.
“A tariff policy is simply a fee tax that is put on things coming into the United States,” he said. “It raises their price, the extra money collected by the entity that is putting the good into the country, the product into the country, that money goes to the treasury of the United States.”
Political Science Professor Mark Kaswan said lab equipment and materials as well as imported technology could become more expensive for students to purchase.
“And so, it would affect the university’s budget. It’s the university’s ability to meet the needs of its researchers and its students. … I mean, if things are 10% more expensive, either the university gets 10% less of the things that it needs or its gonna have to do things like find money,” Kaswan said. “Either through grants and research grants,” Kaswan said.
Kaswan said there is a probability that research projects at UTRGV could fall short on budget.
“It could blow a hole in some of the research projects,” he said. “If research are, you know, fine that their budget won’t cover the things they had planned.Anybody who does research who requires grant thats grant funded that requires equipment probably is building in a little bit of extra… you always know that the prices are gonna change when you get to it.”
Kaswan added the 10% IEEPA tariff change won’t have a huge impact, but it will have a minor impact on campus needs.
Under the Trade Act Provision, the tariff authority will last up to 150 days.
