Trump’s Tariff Twist

On May 28, 2025, the US Court of International Trade determined that President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 by unilaterally imposing broad global tariffs without congressional approval. The three-judge panel emphasised that the IEEPA does not grant the president "unbounded" authority to regulate imports via tariffs, reinforcing that such powers are constitutionally vested in Congress.

This ruling came in response to lawsuits filed by small businesses and a coalition of twelve Democratic-led states, who argued that the U.S. trade deficit did not constitute the "unusual and extraordinary threat" required to invoke the IEEPA.