Donald Trump Vows Supreme Court Appeal After Judges Rebuke His Tariffs

Source: Newsweek

Published Aug 29, 2025 at 5:58 PM EDT Updated Aug 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM EDT


A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump had no legal authority to impose sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law, dealing a major setback to his efforts to reshape global trade on his own terms.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in a 7-4 decision, said Trump's reliance on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to declare national emergencies and levy import taxes on nearly every U.S. trading partner exceeded his authority. But the court stopped short of striking the tariffs immediately, giving the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court. The ruling will not take effect until October 14 as the Trump administration is widely expected to appeal the case to the highest court.

Trump signaled a Supreme Court appeal in a Truth Social post after the ruling, saying in part, "ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong. Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

Why It Matters

The decision complicates Trump's ambition to fully upend decades of U.S. trade policy. He has other legal tools at his disposal, such as provisions in the 1974 Trade Act, but those authorities are narrower and limit how quickly and severely a president can act. Trump's tariff policy — rolled out with little predictability — has rattled global markets, strained ties with U.S. allies and trading partners, and fueled concerns of higher consumer prices and slower economic growth.


Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-tariffs-ruled-illegal-appeals-court-deadline-2121925