Trump appeals to US Supreme Court over ruling against global tariffs
Former US President Donald Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that declared many of his global tariffs unlawful.
In a filing submitted late on Wednesday, the Trump administration urged the justices to act swiftly, arguing that the president holds the authority to impose import taxes under emergency economic powers.
The move follows a 7 to 4 decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which ruled last week that Trump’s tariffs exceeded his mandate.
The court described the setting of levies as “a core Congressional power.” If upheld, the ruling could compel Washington to refund billions of dollars in tariffs and unravel key elements of Trump’s economic and foreign policy legacy.
Trump had imposed the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), declaring an economic emergency in April on the grounds that trade imbalances were undermining US manufacturing and national security. The appellate court has delayed the enforcement of its ruling to allow time for an appeal.
Solicitor General John Sauer, in Wednesday’s submission, warned that the stakes “could not be higher,” stating that the lower court’s decision had disrupted trade negotiations and created uncertainty around efforts to shield the US from what the administration described as an “unprecedented economic and foreign policy crisis.”
Small businesses and state coalitions that challenged the tariffs say they are confident the Supreme Court will reject Trump’s appeal.
“These unlawful tariffs are inflicting serious harm on small businesses and jeopardising their survival,” said Jeffrey Schwab of the Liberty Justice Center, which represents the plaintiffs.
If the justices decline to hear the case, the ruling will take effect on 14 October.
Trump’s tariff programme included a baseline 10 per cent levy and “reciprocal” tariffs aimed at correcting trade imbalances across more than 90 countries, including Canada, Mexico and China.
While the ruling invalidates these measures, it does not affect separate duties on steel and aluminium imposed under different legal authority.
