The US Court of International Trade has unanimously ruled that former President Donald Trump’s baseline and reciprocal tariffs are “unlawful”, effectively halting their implementation. The decision follows multiple lawsuits challenging the administration's sweeping duties on imported goods.
The court found that Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, ruling that the White House's justification of a national emergency tied to trade deficits was “unfounded.”
Judges emphasized that only Congress holds the constitutional authority to enact such broad trade measures, and that decades of persistent trade deficits do not amount to a national emergency.
Trump, now in his second term, has repeatedly pushed for reciprocal tariffs as part of his campaign to address trade imbalances and boost American manufacturing.
The ruling drew sharp criticism from the administration. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeled the decision a "judicial coup," while White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the tariffs, stating the administration is “committed to using every lever of executive power to address this crisis.”
The court’s decision does not apply to tariffs on specific goods like steel, aluminum, and automobiles, which fall under separate legal frameworks. The 10 percent baseline tariffs and reciprocal tariffs remain technically in place during the appeal, although most have already been postponed.
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