Trump's Tariffs Invalidated by Appeals Court, Case Headed to Supreme Court

A federal appeals court delivered a significant blow to the administration's trade policy, ruling that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing sweeping tariffs on a wide range of goods from nearly every country. The decision, which largely upholds a previous ruling by a specialized trade court, sets the stage for a likely appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a 7-4 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that the President's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify his "reciprocal" tariffs and other duties was unlawful. The court's majority opinion stated that while the IEEPA grants the President significant authority in a national emergency, it does not explicitly provide the power to levy tariffs or taxes. The court argued that it was "unlikely that Congress intended" to give the President such unlimited power to impose duties on a global scale.

The ruling applies to a series of executive orders that imposed a 10% baseline tariff on most U.S. trading partners and a separate set of tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China. However, the court's decision does not affect other tariffs imposed under different authorities, such as those on steel and aluminum.

Despite the ruling, the tariffs will remain in effect for the time being. The appeals court has given the administration until October 14 to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated that the administration is confident in its legal position and "looks forward to ultimate victory on this matter."

In a social media post, the President criticized the ruling from what he called a "Highly Partisan Appeals Court." He maintained that his tariffs are the "best tool to help our Workers" and warned that if the decision were "allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America." He concluded his post with "ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!"

The legal battle over the tariffs began earlier this year when a coalition of businesses and states challenged the administration's actions. The U.S. Court of International Trade initially ruled in May that the tariffs were an overreach of presidential power. While the appeals court agreed with that assessment, it did not immediately strike down the tariffs, paving the way for the case to potentially reach the highest court in the land. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for the future of U.S. trade policy and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government.