Court Deals Major Blow to Trump Tariffs — Supreme Court Showdown Looms
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A federal appeals court has ruled that most of former President Donald Trump’s global tariffs are illegal — a major setback to one of the signature pillars of his trade agenda.

In a 7–4 decision on Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that the law Trump used to justify his most sweeping tariffs does not actually give him the authority to impose them.

The court put its ruling on hold until October 14, giving the Trump administration time to ask the Supreme Court to step in and overturn the decision.

Trump wasted no time firing back, blasting the appeals court as “Highly Partisan” and predicting the nation’s highest court will side with him.

“If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.”

White House spokesman Kush Desai also struck a defiant tone, saying, “The President’s tariffs remain in effect, and we look forward to ultimate victory on this matter.”

This marks Trump’s second consecutive loss in the high‑stakes legal battle.

The administration has argued that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) gives the president broad authority to impose country‑specific tariffs at any level if deemed necessary to address a national emergency.

But back in late May, the U.S. Court of International Trade rejected that argument, striking down Trump’s IEEPA‑based tariffs — including his worldwide “reciprocal” tariffs announced in early April. The Federal Circuit temporarily froze that ruling while Trump’s appeal moved forward.

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