Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump secured a temporary legal victory on Thursday as a federal appeals court allowed his sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports — and other global trade partners — to remain in place for now, pending further legal review.
The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit offers Trump short-term relief following a major setback just a day earlier when the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that many of his import duties overstepped presidential authority and ordered a halt to their enforcement.
Calling the trade court’s ruling “horrible,” Trump welcomed the appeals court’s intervention and urged a swift and permanent reversal of the lower court’s decision. “This blockade should be quickly and decisively overturned,” Trump said.
Legal Tug-of-War Over Tariff Powers
The legal wrangling centers on the former president’s use of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to impose blanket tariffs, particularly on Chinese goods. The trade court found that Trump’s broad interpretation of the law was unconstitutional, asserting that such sweeping authority over tariffs belongs to Congress.
A federal district court in Washington, D.C., also weighed in, ruling parts of the tariffs unlawful and giving the administration 14 days to file an appeal.
Despite the legal uncertainty, the appellate court’s stay gives Trump and his legal team time to challenge the lower court’s ruling without having to immediately lift the contested levies.
White House Fires Back at Judges
The Trump administration lashed out at the judiciary, with White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accusing the trade court judges of a “brazen abuse of judicial power.” She added that the Supreme Court must intervene to restore the president’s authority to manage international trade disputes.
Trump’s top trade and economic aides echoed the sentiment. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News the legal decisions had stalled progress in U.S.-China trade talks and suggested direct intervention by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was necessary to break the deadlock.
Meanwhile, Kevin Hassett, head of the National Economic Council, downplayed the court setbacks, calling them “hiccups” caused by “activist judges” and insisting they would not derail trade negotiations. He said three new trade agreements were nearing completion.
Tariff War Rumbles On
Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his controversial tariff strategy, seeking to renegotiate U.S. trade terms and reduce massive trade deficits. While his tariffs have been effective in bringing some countries to the table, they’ve also disrupted global markets and supply chains.
In April, the administration rolled out sweeping 10% tariffs on nearly all trading partners, with higher rates for China and the EU. The U.S. Court of International Trade overturned many of these duties, including those on Canada, Mexico, and China, while allowing 25% tariffs on autos, steel, and aluminum to stand.
China responded sharply to the court’s ruling and urged the U.S. to cancel all remaining tariffs. “We call on the U.S. to heed both domestic and international voices and abandon these unilateral measures,” said Chinese commerce ministry spokeswoman He Yongqian.
Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro claimed that several countries had already contacted the administration expressing willingness to continue negotiations despite the court’s temporary ruling.
The court cases, filed by U.S. businesses and state governments, argue that Trump violated the Constitution by bypassing Congress’s authority over taxation and trade policy. The ultimate decision may land in the Supreme Court, which could redefine the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches over international economic policy.
Analysts at Capital Economics in London noted that while the legal battles may curb some of Trump’s tariff ambitions, they are unlikely to end the broader trade war any time soon.
“This is just one chapter in a long and politically charged saga,” the group said. “The global economy is still very much in the crossfire.”
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