WASHINGTON — In a significant legal victory for his trade policy, President Donald Trump celebrated the outcome of a federal appeals court decision regarding his broad tariff strategy on Wednesday. Trump expressed satisfaction on his social media platform about the court’s ruling on Tuesday night, allowing the continuance of his comprehensive import taxes amidst ongoing legal disputes over this key component of his trade agenda. He emphasized that this decision enables the United States to “use TARIFFS to protect itself against other countries.” “A great and important win for the U.S.,” he declared.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s judgment extended a previous ruling after another federal court had invalidated the tariffs on May 28, citing overreach by Trump in terms of his authority. Highlighting the significance of the issues raised by the challenges to Trump’s tariffs, the appeals court confirmed it would fast-track the case, scheduling arguments for July 31.
The case pertains to the imposition of 10% tariffs by the Republican president in April on a wide array of countries. It also covers larger tariffs—initially imposed and then halted—on countries with which the U.S. has trade deficits. Moreover, it includes tariffs specifically targeting imports from China, Canada, and Mexico. These measures were taken as a strategy to compel these nations to act more decisively against the illegal inflow of immigrants and synthetic opioids across the U.S. border.
Trump justified the tariffs by invoking emergency powers under a 1977 law. However, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of International Trade determined that he had overreached his legal authority.
This ruling by the Court of International Trade resulted from multiple lawsuits contending that Trump exceeded his legal powers, transforming the nation’s trade policy into something unpredictable and largely subject to his discretion. The imposition of these tariffs disrupted global trade, unsettled businesses, and caused volatility in financial markets.