Appeals Court Rules Most Trump Tariffs Illegal, Stays Ruling Until Oct. 14

Most of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs were ruled illegal on Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., according to Reuters. The panel said the emergency-powers statute the administration invoked does not authorize the president to impose tariffs, and allowed the duties to remain in effect through Oct. 14 to give the administration time to seek U.S. Supreme Court review.

“The statute bestows significant authority on the President to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax,” the court said, as reported by Reuters. The decision addresses the “reciprocal” tariffs announced in April and a separate set imposed in February on China, Canada and Mexico, and does not affect tariffs issued under other authorities such as the steel and aluminum measures. Treasury, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, and the Commerce Department had no immediate comment.

What’s next: The administration is expected to request emergency relief from the Supreme Court before the Oct. 14 deadline; the current tariffs remain in force until then while litigation continues.