President Trump Appeals To US Supreme Court Over Tariff Legality

US President Donald Trump has appealed to the US Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that declared many of his sweeping tariffs illegal. The petition, filed Wednesday night, urges the court to act swiftly.

On Friday, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 that Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs on nearly all trading partners under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

The court said imposing tariffs was ‘a core Congressional power’ and not part of the president’s mandate.

Earlier in May, the New York-based Court of International Trade also ruled the tariffs unlawful, according to Xinhua news agency.

Administration Warns of Economic Fallout

Solicitor General John Sauer emphasised the stakes, writing in the filing, “The stakes in this case could not be higher.”

The administration warned that delaying a ruling until June 2026 could mean between $750 billion and $1 trillion in tariffs would have already been collected, and unwinding them could cause ‘significant disruption’.

US businesses have already paid more than $210 billion as of August 24 to cover the tariffs courts have deemed illegal. If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s ruling, the US Treasury may have to return the revenue to businesses.

US Trump Defends Use of Emergency Powers

Trump had invoked the IEEPA in April, declaring a national emergency to impose steep levies. He argued that trade imbalances harmed domestic manufacturing and posed a threat to national security.

Despite that justification, the appeals court paused its ruling until October 14, giving Trump time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Also Read: US President Trump To Rename US Department Of Defence As ‘Department Of War’