President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court ruling that struck down a wide range of his tariffs.
In a 7-4 decision last weekend, the US Court of Appeals found that Trump had overstepped his authority by invoking emergency economic powers to levy tariffs. The majority held that the power to set import duties rests with Congress, not the executive branch.
Late Wednesday, Trump’s legal team petitioned the Supreme Court, urging the justices to act swiftly. They argued that presidents must have the ability to impose tariffs when national or economic security is at stake.
Because the appeals court was divided, rather than unanimous, legal experts say the chances of Supreme Court review are significantly higher.
If the ruling stands, it could deliver a major blow to Trump’s trade policies. Billions of dollars in collected tariffs might have to be refunded, and ongoing negotiations with foreign governments could unravel.
The case stems from lawsuits filed by small businesses and a group of states that claimed the tariffs damaged local economies. The Court of International Trade had previously sided against Trump, but its ruling was placed on hold during the appeals process.
Trump’s contested executive orders, issued in April, set a 10% baseline tariff along with “reciprocal” duties on imports from more than 90 nations, including major trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, and China.
Those tariffs were struck down by the ruling, but separate levies on steel and aluminum – imposed under different legal authority – remain unaffected.
The fate of global trade relations now hinges on whether the Supreme Court agrees to take up the case.
