They are blocking him.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of International Trade determined that former President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority when imposing certain tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
In its decision, the court emphasized that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority over taxation and international commerce. The ruling questioned whether the IEEPA, enacted in 1977, grants the president the power to implement sweeping tariffs on imports from nearly every country.
“The court does not interpret IEEPA as providing such expansive powers,” the judges stated, ultimately overturning the tariffs in question.
The three-judge panel—appointed respectively by former Presidents Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and Trump—unanimously ruled against the challenged tariffs. According to Reuters, the Trump administration has already filed an appeal.
Rather than addressing preliminary motions for temporary relief, the panel went directly to the core issues, ruling decisively to nullify the tariffs and block their enforcement permanently.
“The IEEPA does not support the use of tariffs under the Worldwide, Retaliatory, or Trafficking Tariff Orders,” the court found. “The Worldwide and Retaliatory Orders exceed the president’s legal bounds under IEEPA, and the Trafficking Orders fail because they don’t address the specified threats cited within them.”
The ruling awarded a summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, noting that no material facts were in dispute.
While the Trump administration may escalate the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, the decision introduces ambiguity about which imports may face tariffs moving forward and how the administration might respond.
In a statement to FOX Business, the White House reaffirmed its stance, saying the administration remains determined to leverage all available executive powers to revitalize the nation’s economy.
“America’s longstanding trade deficits, driven by foreign nations’ unequal treatment, have triggered a national emergency that has harmed American communities, disadvantaged workers, and eroded our defense manufacturing capabilities,” said White House spokesman Kush Desai. “These facts were not contested by the court.”
Desai added, “Determining how to respond to a national emergency is not the role of unelected judges. President Trump vowed to prioritize the interests of the American people, and the administration will continue to use every executive tool to meet that promise and strengthen the country.”
Trump introduced his “reciprocal tariff” initiative on April 2, branding it a key part of his “Liberation Day” agenda. The plan includes tailored tariffs on multiple nations and a universal 10% base tariff on imports, aimed at leveling what he described as decades of unfair trade practices imposed on the U.S.
