A significant judicial roadblock for President Trump’s tariffs has been temporarily paused by an appeals court, offering the White House a chance to continue its fight against the ruling that declared the tariffs illegal. This reprieve is vital for the administration as it seeks to maintain a key tool in its economic strategy. The initial ruling had threatened to unravel the president’s ability to impose broad trade levies.
The Court of International Trade had determined that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy tariffs “exceed[ed] any authority granted to the president.” This decision underscored the judiciary’s role in scrutinizing executive actions and ensuring they adhere to statutory limits.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed strong disapproval of the court’s intervention, characterizing it as a “brazen abuse of their judicial power.” The administration is preparing to appeal the decision, signaling a prolonged legal battle that could reach the Supreme Court and have lasting implications for US trade policy.