Supreme Court Considers Trump Administration’s Challenge to Tariff Rulings

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has escalated its legal battle over the president’s authority to impose sweeping import taxes, asking the Supreme Court to swiftly overturn an appeals court ruling that deemed many of these tariffs illegal under federal law.

In a petition filed electronically late Wednesday, the government urged the high court to intervene and schedule arguments for early November. This move comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs constituted an unlawful use of emergency powers. While the appeals court allowed the tariffs to remain in place for now, the administration contends that the ruling casts a ‘pall of uncertainty’ over ongoing trade negotiations and jeopardizes existing deals.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer emphasized the high stakes, asserting that the decision could significantly impact the president’s ability to leverage tariffs in foreign policy. Conversely, small businesses, which have twice prevailed in lower courts, argue that these tariffs inflict severe harm and necessitate a prompt resolution. The lawsuit challenging the tariffs is one of several that have unsettled global markets and raised concerns about economic growth.

The core of the legal dispute lies in the interpretation of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The appeals court majority concluded that IEEPA does not grant the president the power to usurp Congress’s constitutional authority to set tariffs. However, dissenting judges argued the law permits presidential regulation of importation during emergencies without explicit limitations. The ruling specifically targets tariffs justified by national emergencies, including those announced in February and April on imports from countries like Canada, China, and Mexico. Other tariffs, such as those on steel and aluminum, and those imposed on China during Trump’s first term and maintained by the Biden administration, are not covered by this ruling.

The government has warned that a decision striking down the tariffs could force the U.S. Treasury to refund collected import taxes, representing a significant financial blow.

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