Administration strongly condemns court rulings thwarting Trump's tariff implementations
The U.S. Court of International Trade has declared former President Donald Trump's global tariffs, including the "Liberation Day" tariffs, unlawful, as the administration overstepped its legal authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977.
The court's decision, handed down on Wednesday, was a unanimous one and determined that the administration had misused IEEPA, intended for urgent national emergencies, to justify broad tariffs on most U.S. trading partners due to persistent trade deficits or policy objectives. The decision highlighted that IEEPA does not supply the necessary legal basis for such tariffs.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to the decision in a heated press briefing, calling it "judicial overreach" and urging the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. Leavitt argued that the ruling threatened the credibility of the U.S. on the international stage and accused the three-judge panel, consisting of appointments from Trump, Obama, and Reagan, of being "activist judges."
Moreover, Leavitt argued that the Senate, controlled by Republicans, had rejected an attempt by Sen. Rand Paul and his Democratic colleagues to block the president’s tariffs. In early April, when Trump announced the "Liberation Day" tariffs, he deemed chronic trade deficits an urgent national security threat that imperiled the nation's safety and way of life. Since then, the tariffs have been modified or delayed, leading to market turbulence.
The administration plans to appeal the court's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which granted a temporary stay on the lower court’s injunction, allowing the tariffs to remain in effect during the appeals process. While the details of alternative legal authorities have not been specified, experts suggest that the administration may employ Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, although this could still face legal and political scrutiny.
This ruling underscores the legal limitations on presidential tariff powers and casts doubts on the future of U.S. trade policy enforcement under the current administration.
Our political correspondent, Rachel Scott, requested clarification from the White House on whether the administration will explore alternative methods to implement the tariff agenda in light of the court orders. The press secretary confirmed that the president's trade policy would continue but that the administration aims to comply with the court orders and may seek other legal authorities to impose tariffs, suggesting a potentially complex legal battle ahead.
[1] Associated Press, "Court rules Trump's tariffs are unlawful," CNN, May 27, 2025.[2] Reuters, "U.S. Court of International Trade strikes down Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs," Reuters, May 27, 2025.[3] New York Times, "Trump's Trade Tariffs Deemed Unlawful by Court," New York Times, May 27, 2025.[4] Washington Post, "Court blocks Trump's global tariffs as unlawful," Washington Post, May 27, 2025.
- The U.S. Court of International Trade's decision to declare former President Donald Trump's global tariffs, including the "Liberation Day" tariffs, unlawful raises questions about the future of U.S. trade policy enforcement under the current administration, highlighting the legal limitations on presidential tariff powers.
- The court's ruling comes at a time when the administration plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, indicating a potential complex legal battle ahead, as experts suggest that the administration may employ Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose tariffs.
- The general news and policy-and-legislation spheres are closely following the ongoing development, with international business communities keeping a keen eye on the unfolding events, as the court's decision could have significant implications for global trade relations.
