The Court of International Trade (CIT) has dealt another blow to President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, ruling that his latest 10 percent tariffs, like the “reciprocal” duties that came before them, are unlawful.
Trump levied the tariffs on Feb. 24, days after his International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties were struck down by the Supreme Court. Imposed under Section 122 of the Tra...
The conflict between executive authority and established trade law highlights a tension between asserted political power and structural legal constraints. The administration sought to use Section 122 to impose tariffs based on perceived international payment problems, but the court found that the necessary conditions for this power were not met. This suggests that the rhetoric of necessity, while politically potent, does not automatically translate into legal justification under the existing sta...