Federal trade court says Trump can’t impose sweeping tariffs

A three-judge panel at the US Court of International Trade blocked almost all of President Donald Trump’s tariffs yesterday, ruling he doesn’t have the authority to do so using the 1977 emergency legislation, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The court ruled in two separate cases that the act doesn’t delegate power to the president to impose unlimited tariffs.

The move is a major blow to the president’s economic agenda and ongoing trade negotiations with several countries. His administration quickly filed a notice to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

If the case escalates, it could end up in the Supreme Court.