A U.S. federal court has ruled that former President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority by imposing broad global tariffs — a major setback for a key element of his economic agenda.The U.S. Court of International Trade, based in Manhattan, determined that the emergency law invoked by the Trump administration does not grant the president unilateral power to impose tariffs on nearly every country. The court emphasized that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the exclusive authority to regulate foreign trade, a responsibility that cannot be overridden by executive action.Shortly after the ruling, Trump’s legal team filed an appeal. In response, then-White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai released a statement criticizing the decision, saying, “It is not up to unelected judges to decide how to properly respond to a national emergency.” He added, “President Trump vowed to put America first, and this administration is committed to using every tool of executive power to confront this crisis and restore American greatness.”
The lawsuit was brought by the Liberty Justice Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, on behalf of five small businesses that import goods from countries affected by the tariffs. This case marked the first major legal challenge to Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariff plan and is one of seven legal actions filed by 13 U.S. states and business groups against the administration’s trade policies.
Since the tariffs were initially announced on April 2, global financial markets have experienced significant volatility, further complicated by shifting negotiations between the White House and foreign governments.
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