US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's tariffs
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The US Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on many countries was illegal, according to The Hill and CNN.
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The court decided by a majority that the tariffs imposed unilaterally exceeded legal authority. The emergency powers that Trump attempted to rely on do not meet the requirements.
Chief Justice John Roberts said that if a President claims to have emergency powers to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited size, duration, and scope, he must identify clear authorization from Congress to exercise those powers.
As stated in court, the extraordinary powers that the US President tried to rely on are insufficient.
Judges rejected Trump’s expanded use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act from the 1970s to impose tariffs on nearly all countries. The law allows the President to "regulate" imports when necessary to respond to national emergencies.
Trump’s reaction to the Supreme Court ruling
Trump called the Supreme Court’s decision, which overturned his tariffs, a "disgrace" during a White House breakfast with governors.
CNN sources reported that the US President said he has a backup plan.
Trump’s tariffs
Previously, Trump allowed his administration to impose tariffs on goods from countries doing business with Iran, though he did not implement the tariffs immediately.
At the end of January, Trump also threatened to impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the country signed a trade deal with China.
Earlier, Trump had threatened tariffs against several European countries until the US could purchase Greenland.
