A US federal appeals court struck at the core of President Donald Trump’s trade strategy on Friday, ruling that the majority of tariffs he imposed under emergency powers were unlawful.
Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, which were implemented in April as part of his trade war, and another set of tariffs announced in February against China, Canada, and Mexico, were the subjects of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, DC. Other tariffs Trump imposed under different statutes, such as those on imports of steel and aluminium, are unaffected.
On Friday, August 29, US President Donald Trump declared that the US Appeals Court’s decision that the majority of his tariffs were unlawful was “incorrect,” stressing that all of the tariffs remained in place.
Donald Trump, who referred to the court as “highly partisan,” maintained that the levies were essential to the US economy and warned that their removal would be a “total disaster” that would leave the nation “financially weak.”
“ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today, a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump continued, “The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair tariffs and Non-Tariff Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else. If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.
“At the start of this Labour Day weekend, we should all remember that TARIFFS are the best tool to help our Workers, and support Companies that produce great MADE IN AMERICA products. For many years, Tariffs were allowed to be used against us by our uncaring and unwise Politicians. Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again!”
A US federal appeals court dealt a serious blow to Donald Trump’s tariff program when it declared that the majority of the president’s tariffs, which affected several trading partners, including India, with 50% charges, were unlawful.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 in favour of a lower court’s finding that Trump has overreached himself by using emergency economic powers to impose broad requirements.
To give both parties time to appeal to the Supreme Court, the judges allowed the tariffs to stay in effect until the middle of October.
