DONALD Trump’s global tariffs have been declared illegal by the Appeals Court – but his levies can stay in place for now.
In a striking blow to the US President’s trade policy, the court ruled he had no legal right to impose sweeping tariffs and wasn’t legally allowed to declare national emergencies.
Trump displays a signed executive order imposing tariffs on imported goods[/caption]
The court allowed the tariffs to remain in place until October 14 to give the Whitehouse a chance to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.
It comes just months after Trump had his global tariffs reinstated by a federal appeals court following a temporary block.
A US federal court in New York blocked most of the import taxes from going into effect, ruling that the president had overstepped his authority.
Trump has previously cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when justifying his sweeping tariffs on trading partners -declaring fentanyl trafficking, immigration and US trade deficit among the country’s national emergencies.
But today the court ruled: “It seems unlikely that Congress intended, in enacting IEEPA, to depart from its past practice and grant the president unlimited authority to impose tariffs.”
It added that US law “bestows significant authority on the president to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency,
“But none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax”.
Trump started a global trade war with nearly every country by instituting a minimum 10 per tariff on their exports into the US.
He also slapped a 25 per cent tariff on Mexico and Canada, saying he needed to levies to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and the horror drug Fentanyl.
He has since gone about trying to strike bespoke trade deals with each country – retaining high tariffs on the ones he hasn’t and lower tariffs following deals.
This latest court order spells an end to Trump’s international trade war and bars his most sweeping tariffs, effectively erasing most of the trade restrictions he has announced since taking office.
Responding on his Truth Social platform, Trump fumed the ruling will be a “total disaster” for America and insisted tariffs are “the best tool to help our workers”.
He said: “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end.
“If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong.
“The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and Non Tariff Trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else.
“If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.
“At the start of this Labor Day weekend, we should all remember that TARIFFS are the best tool to help our Workers, and support Companies that produce great MADE IN AMERICA products.
“For many years, Tariffs were allowed to be used against us by our uncaring and unwise Politicians.
“Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Trump has always said he will appeal and take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court.
After the first court ruling in May, White House spokesman Kush Desai said: “Foreign countries’ nonreciprocal treatment of the Unites States has fueled America’s historic and persistent trade deficits.
“These deficits have created a national emergency that has decimated American communities, left our workers behind, and weakened our defense industrial base – facts that the court did not dispute.
“It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency. President Trump pledged to put America First, and the Administration is committed to using every lever of executive power to address this crisis and restore American Greatness.”
