Trump’s Tariff Authority Under IEEPA Struck Down by Federal Court

The asserted authority of President Donald Trump to levy widespread tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) has been officially struck down by a federal court. The ruling invalidates a key legal tool used to construct his protectionist trade policies.
In a 7-4 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit declared that the IEEPA does not grant the president the power to set tariffs. The court noted the law lacks the specific language and procedural checks that would be expected if Congress had intended to delegate such a significant aspect of its constitutional power over commerce.
This has immediate and serious consequences for U.S. trade relations. The informal pacts and understandings reached with countries like Japan and the EU are now in question, as they were negotiated under the threat of tariffs that have been ruled illegal. This could lead to a wave of renegotiations or trade disputes.
The former president has vowed an appeal, which means the Supreme Court will likely have the final word. The case will be a landmark test of executive authority, forcing the court to clarify the limits of the president’s emergency powers and reaffirm the role of Congress in setting the nation’s economic policy.