Sunday, August 31, 2025 -A federal appeals court has struck down the bulk of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, ruling they exceeded his executive authority under existing trade law.
The decision, delivered in a 7–4 vote by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, found that while the president may act narrowly in certain sectors such as steel and aluminum, Trump’s sweeping duties on imports from China, Canada, Mexico, and beyond went far beyond what the law allows. The ruling keeps the tariffs in place until October 14 to give the government time to appeal.
The verdict immediately sparked political fireworks. Trump condemned the court’s move as a “total disaster for the country,” framing it as a partisan attack on his trade agenda.
Critics, however, argued the decision underscores the constitutional principle that tariff-making power rests with Congress, not the White House. Businesses hit by years of elevated import costs cautiously welcomed the ruling, with some already weighing possible claims for refunds. On Wall Street, trade-sensitive stocks fluctuated sharply as investors tried to gauge the long-term implications.
Attention now shifts to the Supreme Court, which is widely expected to hear the case given its far-reaching consequences for presidential authority and U.S. trade policy.
If the ruling is upheld, future presidents could face tighter constraints on imposing unilateral tariffs under emergency powers, reshaping America’s approach to global trade. For now, companies, consumers, and policymakers are bracing for weeks of uncertainty as the political and legal battles over tariffs enter a critical new phase.
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