Up next
Author
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest

A divided United States appeals court has decided that many of Donald Trump’s tariffs are illegal, challenging the Republican president’s use of the levies as a primary international economic strategy.
The court permitted the tariffs to stay effective until 14 October to allow the Trump administration time to appeal to the US Supreme Court.
This ruling occurs as a legal dispute over the Federal Reserve’s independence also appears to be headed to the Supreme Court, setting the stage for an extraordinary legal confrontation this year over Trump’s complete economic policy.

The tariffs have provided the Trump administration with leverage to secure economic concessions from trading partners but have also added to financial market volatility.

A ‘total disaster’
Trump lamented the decision by what he called a “highly partisan” court, posting on Truth Social: “If these tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the country”.
He nonetheless predicted a reversal, saying he expected tariffs to benefit the country “with the help of the Supreme Court”.

The 7-4 verdict from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington DC evaluated the legality of what Trump refers to as “reciprocal” tariffs enacted as part of his trade war in April, along with a separate set of tariffs enforced in February against China, Canada, and Mexico.

Democratic presidents appointed six judges in the majority and two judges who dissented, while Republican presidents appointed one judge in the majority and two dissenters.
The court’s decision does not impact tariffs issued under other legal authority, such as Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Trump justified both sets of tariffs — as well as more recent levies — under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which gives the president the power to address “unusual and extraordinary” threats during national emergencies.
“The statute 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,” the court said.

“It appears unlikely that Congress intended, when enacting IEEPA, to deviate from its previous practice and bestow the president with unlimited authority to impose tariffs.”

The 1977 law had historically been used for imposing sanctions on enemies or freezing their assets. Trump, the first president to use IEEPA to impose tariffs, says the measures were justified given trade imbalances, declining US manufacturing power and the cross-border flow of drugs.
Trump’s Department of Justice has argued that the law allows tariffs under emergency provisions that authorise a president to “regulate” imports or block them completely.
Trump declared a national emergency in April over the fact that the US imports more than it exports, as the nation has done for decades. Trump said the persistent trade deficit was undermining US manufacturing capability and military readiness.

Trump stated the February tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico were justified because those nations were not doing enough to prevent illegal fentanyl from entering US borders — a claim the countries have rejected.
There was little reaction to the ruling in after-hours stock trading.
Trump is also locked in a legal battle to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, potentially ending the central bank’s independence.
The 6-3 conservative majority Supreme Court has issued a series of rulings favouring Trump’s second term agenda. But it has also in recent years been hostile to expansive interpretations of old statutes to provide presidents newly-found powers.
The appeals court ruling stems from two cases — one brought by five small US businesses and the other by 12 Democratic-led US states, which argued that IEEPA does not authorise tariffs.
The Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the authority to issue taxes and tariffs, and any delegation of that authority must be both explicit and limited, according to the lawsuits.
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
You May Also Like
Ringwood carjacking

Police Thwart Alleged Carjacking Attempts by Teenage Boys

Two teenage boys have been charged after police foiled two attempted carjackings…
Flaming chunk of suspected space junk crash lands on WA mine site

Unmasking the Cosmic Intruder: Space Debris Crashes into Western Australia Mine

At around 2 pm local time (5 pm AEDT) yesterday, workers at…

Two Additional Hostage Remains Returned as Netanyahu Declares Conflict Persists Until Hamas Disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the war in Gaza would…
Residents in parts of Australia's east coast are expected to swelter this week with several states on track to experience record-high October temperatures.

Aussie Heatwave Alert: Record-Breaking Temperatures Set to Scorch Multiple States

Residents along Australia’s east coast should brace themselves for an intense heatwave…

Could Your Dog Be Prone to Addiction? New Scientific Insights Suggest Possibility

Dogs can become so attached to particular toys they display behaviour that…
Israel has received a coffin carrying the body of a deceased hostage, the prime minister's office said in a statement late Friday. In this October 14 photo, people celebrated in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square after the announcement that bodies of four Israeli hostages would be released.

Israel Confirms Identification of 75-Year-Old Man as Tenth Hostage

The body of a tenth deceased hostage returned to Israel from Gaza…
The wretched fate Anthony Albanese is hoping to dodge in just two days

Anthony Albanese’s Crucial Countdown: Can He Avoid Political Turmoil in Just 48 Hours?

When Anthony Albanese meets Donald Trump at the White House in a…
Remembering Virginia Giuffre: The woman who helped bring down Jeffery Epstein

Metropolitan Police Investigates Allegations About Prince Andrew’s Inquiry Into Virginia Giuffre

London’s Metropolitan Police says it is “actively looking into” media reports Prince…

David Littleproud Expresses Support for Barnaby Joyce to Remain with the Nationals

Nationals leader David Littleproud has called for Barnaby Joyce to remain with…
Locals dig graves for people killed in a cross-border airstrike by the Pakistani army in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Shafiqullah Mashaal)

Ceasefire Announced: Afghanistan and Pakistan Reach Peace Agreement with Qatar’s Mediation

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached…

Public Alert: Gold and Silver Prices Surge Dramatically, Potential Investment Risks Ahead

In recent days, hundreds have been lining up outside retailers across Australia,…
The Office Australia has been officially cancelled

Australian Adaptation of ‘The Office’ Canceled After One Season Amid Critical Backlash

The Australian adaptation of “The Office” has reached its end, with confirmation…