US Appeals Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs

A US appeals court has ruled that most of the tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump are illegal, setting the stage for a possible Supreme Court battle.

The decision affects Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs placed on many countries, along with separate tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada.

In a 7–4 ruling, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said Trump overstepped his authority by using emergency powers to justify the levies, calling them “invalid as contrary to law.” The judges explained that the power to impose tariffs belongs to Congress, not the president.

The court’s decision will not take effect until October 14, giving Trump’s legal team time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Reacting on Truth Social, Trump blasted the ruling, calling it “highly partisan.” He warned that removing the tariffs would be a “total disaster” for the country and weaken America’s economy.

Trump had used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify the measures, arguing that trade imbalances threatened US national security. But the court said the law does not cover tariffs, noting that Congress never intended to give the president unlimited power to set trade duties.

The case stemmed from lawsuits filed by small businesses and several states after Trump’s executive orders in April imposed a 10% baseline tariff on most countries, alongside additional “reciprocal” tariffs.

A lower court had already ruled the tariffs unlawful in May, but that decision was put on hold pending appeal.

Friday’s ruling also blocks tariffs Trump placed on Canada, Mexico, and China. However, it does not affect his tariffs on steel and aluminum, which were imposed under a different law.

Lawyers for the White House had argued that scrapping the tariffs could trigger a financial crisis similar to the Great Depression, but the court disagreed.