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Donald Trump announcing his tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in April. Alamy Stock Photo
judgement day
US Supreme Court to decide fate of Trump's tariffs in November
A lower court last month found that the US President exceeded his authority in imposing the wide-ranging duties.
THE US SUPREME Court has agreed to hear arguments on the legality of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs in November.
It comes after the US President’s administration asked for an expedited ruling on the issue last week.
In a 7-4 ruling last month, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that Trump exceeded his authority in tapping emergency economic powers to impose the wide-ranging duties.
But the judges allowed the levies to stay in place through mid-October, giving the Republican leader time to take the fight to the Supreme Court.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose “reciprocal” tariffs on almost all US trading partners, with a 10% baseline level and higher rates for dozens of economies, including the EU.
He tapped similar powers to slap separate tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China over what he said was the flow of deadly drugs into the United States.
The appeals court ruling also cast doubt over deals Trump has struck with key trading partners such as the EU – raising the question of what would happen to the billions of dollars in tariffs already collected by the US if the conservative-majority Supreme Court does not side with him.
Trump’s administration asked the top court last week for an expedited ruling preserving the tariffs, saying the lower court decision has already damaged trade negotiations.
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