Donald Trump has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court decision that ruled most of his sweeping trade tariffs unlawful.
The former president’s legal team filed the request late Wednesday, seeking a review of last week’s 7-4 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington DC. The case concerns Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariffs, imposed on 2 April, which levied duties ranging from 10% to 50% on the majority of U.S. imports, rattling global trade and markets.
The appeals court determined that Trump had exceeded his presidential powers when he relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to justify the tariffs. The judges noted that while the law grants broad authority in times of national emergency, it does not explicitly permit the imposition of tariffs, duties, or taxes. They also described the measures as ‘unbounded in scope, amount and duration,’ exceeding the law’s limits.
Despite the ruling, the tariffs remain in effect until 14 October, giving the administration time to pursue further legal action. Trump’s appeal asks the Supreme Court to fast-track its decision, requesting that the justices consider whether to hear the case by 10 September, hold arguments by 10 November, and potentially issue a ruling before the end of the year.
Trump defended his tariffs, warning on his Truth Social platform that allowing the decision to stand would ‘literally destroy the United States of America.’ Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said the U.S. could end up being a third-world country without protective tariffs.
Economists warn that if the tariffs are struck down, the effective U.S. tariff rate of 16.3% could be cut by half, with the government potentially liable for tens of billions of dollars in refunds. The outcome could also disrupt preliminary trade agreements struck with countries, including the UK and EU.
The tariffs have sparked backlash from businesses and consumers alike. Levi’s recently warned that rising anti-American sentiment linked to Trump’s trade policies could harm sales in the UK, while brands such as Tesla and Jack Daniel’s have seen declining demand in Europe and Canada amid protests against U.S. products.
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