On the 29th, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the law President Trump relied on when approving tariffs against multiple countries actually did not grant him the authority to levy the relevant tariffs.
The Federal Circuit upheld a lower court ruling by a vote of 7 to 4, finding that the emergency act invoked by Trump did not authorize him to impose most of the tariffs.
According to the court's decision, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes the president to promulgate certain economic measures in emergency situations to respond to "unusual and extraordinary threats," but does not allow the president to take sweeping action. The Act grants the president the power to regulate imports, but does not mean the president is authorized to levy tariffs through executive orders.
According to the decision, the ruling will not take effect until before October 14, to allow the Trump administration time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. local media believe that this ruling is a heavy blow to the Trump administration's aggressive trade policies.
Trump Emphasizes Tariffs Still in Effect
After the release of the Federal Circuit's ruling, Trump posted on social media the same day, insisting that “all tariffs remain in effect” and stated he would appeal to the Supreme Court.
He wrote on Truth Social: “All tariffs remain in effect! Today, a sharply divided appeals court made a wrong decision, saying our tariffs should be canceled, but they know America will ultimately win.”
After taking office in January this year, the Trump administration invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement a series of tariff increases through executive orders without Congressional approval.
In May, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled this move by the Trump administration to be illegal. Subsequently, the Trump administration appealed to the Federal Circuit Court.