A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that the majority of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump were illegal, upholding an earlier decision by a lower court. According to The Guardian, the judges found that Trump exceeded his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which does not provide explicit authority for such sweeping duties.

The ruling concerns tariffs that went beyond targeted measures like those on steel and aluminum. As The Financial Times reported, the implementation of the decision has been suspended until October 14, giving the Trump administration time to appeal. The case is now expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump responded furiously, calling the judgment “a total disaster for the country.” In a post on Truth Social, he insisted that “all tariffs remain in place” and described the appeals court as “highly partisan.” He argued that the United States would not tolerate “massive trade deficits and unfair tariffs” imposed by other countries, adding: “If this decision stands, it will literally destroy the United States.”

During his second term in office, Trump made tariffs a central tool of foreign and economic policy, using them to pressure trading partners and renegotiate deals. The Guardian noted that while the tariffs gave his administration leverage in negotiations with China, Canada, and Mexico, they also contributed to volatility in global markets.

The legal challenges began earlier this year, when the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. United States that Trump’s sweeping tariffs were unlawful. Small businesses and several U.S. states then pursued lawsuits, arguing that the president had abused emergency powers. As The Financial Times highlighted, the appeals court has now affirmed those findings, raising the stakes for a Supreme Court showdown over the limits of presidential trade authority.

TRUMP

Trump Tariffs Declared Illegal by U.S. Court

Federal judges say Trump overreached in imposing sweeping tariffs, while the president warns the ruling would “destroy the United States.”

NEWSPULSE