US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social soon after a trade court blocked his new ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs. He shared a picture of himself with the words: “He’s on a mission from God & nothing can stop what is Coming.”
The Court of International Trade in Manhattan ruled on Wednesday that Trump did not have the legal power to bring in these new tariffs.
The judges said that only the US Congress can control trade with other countries, and the president cannot use emergency powers for this purpose.
The court added that it was not judging whether the tariffs were a good idea or not, only that the law does not allow the president to use them in this way.
Two lawsuits were filed. One came from the Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small American businesses that rely on imports. The other came from 13 US states, led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield.
The businesses, including a New York wine importer and a company that makes educational kits, said the tariffs would hurt their work. Rayfield called the tariffs “unlawful, reckless, and economically devastating.”
Trump introduced the tariffs in April, calling the US trade deficit a national emergency. He planned a 10% tax on all imports, and even higher rates for countries like China that sell more to the US than they buy.
Many of these special tariffs were paused a week later. On 12 May, the White House said it would reduce the steepest tariffs on China while working on a new trade deal. The US and China agreed to lower tariffs on each other for at least 90 days.
The ruling can be appealed in a higher court and could even go to the US Supreme Court.
Trump is the first president to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to place tariffs. The law is usually used during national security threats, for example, to freeze money linked to enemy countries.
The Justice Department said the lawsuits should be dropped because the businesses have not yet paid the tariffs, and only Congress can challenge a national emergency under IEEPA.
Inputs from agencies
The Court of International Trade in Manhattan ruled on Wednesday that Trump did not have the legal power to bring in these new tariffs.
The judges said that only the US Congress can control trade with other countries, and the president cannot use emergency powers for this purpose.
The court added that it was not judging whether the tariffs were a good idea or not, only that the law does not allow the president to use them in this way.
Two lawsuits were filed. One came from the Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small American businesses that rely on imports. The other came from 13 US states, led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield.
The businesses, including a New York wine importer and a company that makes educational kits, said the tariffs would hurt their work. Rayfield called the tariffs “unlawful, reckless, and economically devastating.”
Trump introduced the tariffs in April, calling the US trade deficit a national emergency. He planned a 10% tax on all imports, and even higher rates for countries like China that sell more to the US than they buy.
Many of these special tariffs were paused a week later. On 12 May, the White House said it would reduce the steepest tariffs on China while working on a new trade deal. The US and China agreed to lower tariffs on each other for at least 90 days.
The ruling can be appealed in a higher court and could even go to the US Supreme Court.
Trump is the first president to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to place tariffs. The law is usually used during national security threats, for example, to freeze money linked to enemy countries.
The Justice Department said the lawsuits should be dropped because the businesses have not yet paid the tariffs, and only Congress can challenge a national emergency under IEEPA.
Inputs from agencies
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