A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday allowed U.S. President Donald Trump to continue collecting tariffs under an emergency powers law for now, as his administration fights an order striking down the bulk of his signature set of economic policies.
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted the emergency motion from the Trump administration that argued the pause is “critical for the country’s national security.”
The appeals court temporarily halted the order from a federal trade court issued a day before.
In a post on social media on Thursday evening, Trump slammed the trade court’s ruling as “so wrong, and so political!’
He further expressed hope that the U.S. Supreme Court “will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY.”
Continued uncertainty
Even before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit stepped in, business owners and the U.S. National Retail Federation had said that without a definitive, final ruling, the trade court decision only created more uncertainty and made it harder to budget and plan.
A U.S trade court blocked some of Donald Trump’s tariffs, ruling he overstepped his authority as the president expressed frustration with a new Wall Street buzzword mocking his erratic trade policies.
“The ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade blocking most of President Trump’s tariffs is just another chapter in this difficult journey toward a clear, consistent and strategic trade policy,” Jonathan Gold, the trade group’s vice-president of supply chain and customs policy, said in an emailed statement.
“We urge rapid resolution as this process continues in the courts.”
Trump, who returned to the Oval Office in January after four years outside the White House, is facing several lawsuits arguing that the “Liberation Day” tariffs exceeded his authority and left the country’s trade policy dependent on his whims.
Senior Trump administration officials had said they were undeterred by the trade court’s ruling, saying they expected either to prevail on appeal or employ other presidential powers to ensure they go into effect.
“I can assure the American people that the Trump tariff agenda is alive, well, healthy and will be implemented,” said White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, when speaking to reporters at the White House.
Timothy Brightbill, a lawyer who specializes in international trade law and policy, said it was hard to say what would happen next, but it seems likely the country’s top court will end up weighing in on Trump’s tariffs — a possibility that the U.S. president’s social post later hinted at.
“Trade cases almost never go to the Supreme Court, but I think in this case, the issues are obviously significant enough and important enough that, ultimately, this will be decided by the Supreme Court,” he told NBC News.
Markets cautiously optimistic
The White House also said…
Read More: U.S. appeals court says Trump can keep collecting tariffs — for now
