Trump Tariffs Stay for Now; White House Vows Supreme Court Appeal
Washington D.C. : A U.S. federal appeals court ruled Thursday that President Donald Trump’s administration can temporarily maintain his contested tariffs, citing emergency powers. The decision follows the administration’s challenge to a lower court ruling that had invalidated a significant portion of Trump’s key economic policies.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted an urgent request from the Trump administration, which argued that halting the tariffs was “critical for the country’s national security.”
President Trump faces multiple lawsuits claiming his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs exceeded what the law permits.
This legal battle stems from a Wednesday ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade, which found Trump exceeded his authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to declare a national emergency and impose broad tariffs. That ruling was seen as a significant setback for Trump, whose administration’s unpredictable trade actions have caused global financial market volatility.
White House Defends Emergency Tariffs
Trade adviser Peter Navarro lauded the appeals court’s decision, telling reporters Thursday, “I can assure you, American people, that the Trump tariff agenda is alive, well, healthy, and will be implemented to protect you, to save your jobs and your factories.”
Despite Navarro’s positive remarks on the temporary stay, the White House acknowledged ongoing concerns that the appeals court might ultimately strike down Trump’s tariff policy.
White House officials affirmed their intention to defend the tariffs’ legality up to the U.S. Supreme Court. They indicated that if current efforts are blocked, President Trump would explore alternative legal avenues to implement similar levies.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “…Other countries around the world have belief in Donald Trump…they also probably see how ridiculous this ruling is…we intend to win, we have filed an emergency appeal and we expect to fight this battle all the way in Supreme Court…”
“America cannot function if President Trump — or any other president, for that matter — has their sensitive diplomatic or trade negotiations railroaded by activist judges,” Leavitt added. “Ultimately, the Supreme Court must put an end to this for the sake of our Constitution and our country.”