© EPA/ERIK S. LESSER However, the decision only applies to part of the duties.
The U.S. Supreme Court declared, in a 6-3 vote, that President Donald Trump overstepped his power by implementing duties on other nations under the National Emergency Act, NBC News detailed.
“This represents a rare defeat for the [Trump] administration in the Supreme Court, which possesses a 6-3 conservative majority, ever since Trump's second term commenced in January,” the journalists observed.
The justices determined that Trump’s methodology concerning tariffs on foreign goods isn’t permitted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA). However, the determination doesn’t extend to other tariffs imposed under distinct laws. This pertains to duties on aluminum and steel. The president retains the option to attempt to reinstate tariffs utilizing alternative laws.
The ruling was penned by Chief Justice John Roberts of the United States Supreme Court. He garnered support from three liberal justices in addition to two conservative colleagues, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.
The U.S. Constitution vests Congress with the authority to establish tariffs. Nonetheless, Trump invoked the IEEPA, which lacks explicit mention of tariffs yet empowers the president to “regulate” imports and exports should he perceive an emergency arising from an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the nation.
Previously, lower US courts had ruled against Trump’s tariffs in a pair of related cases. Both sides requested the Supreme Court to render a conclusive verdict.
It’s worth noting that Trump suggested the United States would become “defenseless” and potentially “reduced to almost third-world status” were the Supreme Court to overturn his global tariffs. The media cautioned that Trump would still maintain numerous avenues to persistently impose taxes on imports, regardless of whether the court ruled against him.