6-3 ruling against unilateral imposition of tariffs without congressional approval labelled a ‘disgrace’ by Trump
Trump illegally used executive power to impose global tariffs, supreme court rules
The US supreme court has struck down Donald Trump’s flagship policy of imposing tariffs on foreign imports in his bid to revitalise American manufacturing. The US president has reportedly called the decision a “disgrace”. Here’s what it means, and what could happen next.
The court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority and should have got congressional approval for the tariffs, which he announced on what he dubbed “liberation day” last April. The tariffs, set at varying rates, covered dozens of countries from war-torn Syria and impoverished Lesotho to the UK, China, Canada, Mexico, Japan and EU countries.
The conservative-majority court ruled six to three in the judgment, saying the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) – the 1977 law designed to address national emergencies Trump had used to implement them - “does not authorise the president to impose tariffs”.
