President Donald Trump has announced plans to swiftly appeal to the United States Supreme Court following a federal appeals court decision that invalidated most of his import tariffs.
The president criticised the ruling as a serious threat to the nation’s economy and security, warning that the removal of these tariffs could result in the United States becoming “a third-world country.”
Speaking at the White House, Trump stated, “If you take away tariffs, we could end up being a third-world country.” He revealed that his administration intends to request that the Supreme Court hear the case on an expedited basis, aiming to overturn the 7-4 judgement made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit last week.
The appellate court ruled that Trump exceeded his powers by imposing these tariffs without explicit congressional approval.
“The core Congressional power to impose taxes such as tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution,” the court stated, emphasising that tariffs remain primarily under Congress’s control.
The tariffs were originally enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants presidents economic powers in declared national emergencies. However, the court determined that this statute does not explicitly authorise tariff imposition, making most of the levies unlawful.
Introduced earlier this year, Trump’s tariffs included duties of up to 50% on imports from various nations, including major trade partners like China, Canada, and Mexico. These tariffs were justified as measures against unfair trade practices and the failure of these countries to adequately address the flow of fentanyl, a deadly opioid, into the U.S. The tariffs served as a key element of Trump’s strategy to protect domestic industries and address trade imbalances.
Despite the setback, the appeals court delayed enforcement of its decision until October 14, providing time for an appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump expressed urgency, saying, “We’re going to be going to the Supreme Court, we think tomorrow, because we need an early decision.”
“The stock market’s down because of that, because the stock market needs the tariffs. They want the tariffs,” he added.
Legal analysts note that this ruling challenges the executive’s authority to wield tariffs as a unilateral trade tool without congressional consent. The Supreme Court’s eventual decision is likely to have far-reaching consequences both legally and economically.
If the ruling stands, the majority of imports—previously covering nearly 70% of tariffed goods as estimated by the Tax Foundation—would no longer be subject to tariffs. Instead, tariffs would apply to only around 16% of imports, significantly reducing the scope and influence of U.S. trade duties.