An appeals court in Washington, DC, ruled on Friday that the sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are largely unconstitutional.
“The statute bestows significant authority on the President to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax,” the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said.
In its 7-4 ruling, the court, however, also said the tariffs could remain in place until October 14 to allow the government to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.
Friday’s ruling largely upheld a May decision by a specialized federal trade court in New York which had ruled Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs “exceed any authority granted to the President” under the emergency powers law and ordered a halt to the tariffs.
Shortly after the ruling on Friday, the US Attorney General’s office announced it would appeal the decision.
