WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court delivered a major blow to President Donald Trump, ruling Friday that he exceeded his authority when imposing sweeping tariffs using a law reserved for a national emergency.
The justices, divided 6-3, held that Trump's aggressive approach to tariffs on products entering the United States from across the world was not permitted under a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The ruling invalidates many, but not all, of Trump’s tariffs. He could still seek to reimpose some tariffs usingother laws.
The White House had no immediate comment on the ruling, but Trump called it a “disgrace" after being informed about it during a meeting with governors, according to a person familiar with his reaction. He also said he had a backup plan, this person said.
As recently as Thursday, Trumpbemoanedthe possibility of the tariffs being struck down.
“Without tariffs, this country would be in such trouble right now,” he said.
The rulingwas authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, who was joined by three liberal justices and two fellow conservatives, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, in the majority.
"The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration and scope," Roberts wrote. But the Trump administration "points to no statute" in which Congress has previously said that the language in IEEPA could apply to tariffs, he added.
As such, "we hold that IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs," Roberts wrote.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito dissented.
Source: Drudge Report
