US - A federal appeals court ruled that most of Donald Trump’s global tariffs exceeded his emergency powers as president. The court found that the International Emergency...
Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize tariffs, so the reciprocal tariffs on nearly all trading partners are legally invalid. The ruling upholds a prior decision and leaves the tariffs in place only until mid-October to allow further appeals, potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The decision, 7-4, emphasizes that the IEEPA addresses external threats to national security or the economy but does not grant broad authority to impose tariffs, and that the power to tax lies with Congress. Trump criticized the ruling as partisan, calling it a “disaster,” while supporters warn it could threaten U.S. trade policy if reversed.
What happens next is likely a Supreme Court review, which could either uphold the appellate ruling and strike down the tariffs or expand presidential powers to use the IEEPA for tariffs. If upheld, tariffs could be struck down, affecting government revenue and international trade relations; if reversed, it could set a precedent for broader executive power in trade.
As for the current tariffs, reciprocal tariffs remain in place until mid-October, with steel, aluminum, and copper tariffs—imposed under a separate authority—remaining unchanged. (BBC)
