Court blocks Trump tariffs, testing limits of trade authority

Mace | 29th May 2025 | Diplomacy, Embassy News, Politics, Washington

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A U.S. federal court has struck down President Trump’s global tariffs, ruling they exceed the limits of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The administration has appealed, insisting trade talks remain on track. The ruling affects Executive Order 14257 but leaves other trade measures intact, pending further judicial review.

A U.S. federal court has invalidated most of President Donald Trump's global tariffs, ruling that they exceed his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Court of International Trade determined that the administration's justification—citing economic threats and trade deficits—did not meet the "unusual and extraordinary threat" criteria required by the 1977 statute. The court's decision immediately halts the enforcement of these tariffs, which were a central component of Trump's "Liberation Day" trade policy. The ruling specifically targets tariffs imposed under Executive Order 14257, which established a baseline 10% duty on imports from most countries, with higher rates on certain nations. The court found that the IEEPA does not grant the president the authority to unilaterally impose such broad tariffs without congressional approval. However, tariffs enacted under other statutes, such as Section 232 (national security) and Section 301 (unfair trade...

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