Donald Trump has turned to the US Supreme Court in a bid to defend his sweeping tariffs on foreign imports.
The move follows a lower court ruling that many of the tariffs went beyond presidential authority and intruded on Congress’s exclusive power to set taxes. If upheld, the decision could unravel large parts of Trump’s trade policy and force the government to refund billions already collected.
Trump imposed the tariffs under emergency economic powers, claiming that trade imbalances posed a threat to American manufacturing and national security. His measures included a baseline 10% tariff and “reciprocal” tariffs aimed at more than 90 countries, among them Canada, Mexico, and China.
While a federal appeals court struck down the tariffs, it delayed the ruling from taking effect, giving Trump time to appeal. His legal team argues the case has enormous stakes, warning that undoing the tariffs could destabilize trade negotiations and weaken the country’s economic defenses.
Small businesses that brought lawsuits against the tariffs say they have suffered severe financial harm and are confident the courts will ultimately rule in their favor.
If the Supreme Court refuses to take the case, the lower court’s ruling will go into effect in mid-October.