The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump’s “emergency tariffs” violated federal law and are deemed illegal.
Chief Justice John Roberts and the court agreed in a 6-3 vote that the tariffs exceeded the law. The court, however, did not say what should happen to the more than $130 billion in tariffs that have already been collected.
“The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Justice Roberts wrote for the court. “In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it.”
In response to the ruling, Florida Congressman Darren Soto (D) released a statement urging Congress to “block any other unlawful attempts by Trump to levy these terrible tariffs again,” as he claims their only function is to raise prices and kill jobs.
“This is a major victory for the American people! Trump’s tariffs are raising prices and killing jobs,” Rep. Soto wrote. “Congress must block any other unlawful attempts by Trump to levy these terrible tariffs again.”
The House voted to suspend the tariffs on Canadian goods this month in a 219-211 vote, citing Central Budgeting Office (CBO) estimates that show that U.S. consumers bear 95% of the costs caused by Trump’s tariffs. Foreign firms bear 5% of the costs.
Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) claimed that Trump’s tariffs “suck nearly $2000 from average US family budgets” while affirming that Democrats will “keep fighting to lower the sky-high costs Republicans refuse to confront.”
President Trump called the Supreme Court ruling “a disgrace” while hosting the White House breakfast with governors this morning, according to a CNN article.
The president and Justice Department officials attempted to defend the tariffs, telling justices that “with tariffs, we are a rich nation” but without them, “we are a poor nation.” A group of small businesses that challenged the duties similarly warned that Trump’s position represented a “breathtaking assertion of power” to effectively levy a tax without oversight from Congress.
