In what could be a huge setback for President Trump’s trade agenda, a federal appeals court has just rejected his authority to impose sweeping tariffs.
In a 7-4 decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit struck down the majority of President Trump’s global tariffs.
Here are the details:
BREAKING: A federal appeals court has ruled that most of President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs are unlawful, potentially dealing a significant blow to the president’s effort to reshape the country’s trade policy unilaterally.
Read more: https://t.co/oxyJA7Uhwk pic.twitter.com/xGUOa933BU
— ABC News (@ABC) August 29, 2025
BREAKING: Federal appeals court rules most of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal pic.twitter.com/q0qQb7pocL
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 29, 2025
Not only would this insane ruling potentially stop a huge chunk of President Trump’s tariffs in their tracks, but it could force his administration to pay back the billions of dollars in revenue our country has made through tariffs so far!
Politico reported:
A federal appeals court on Friday struck down President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers granted by Congress to impose tariffs, opening the door for the administration to potentially have to repay billions worth of duties.
The 7-4 ruling raises doubt about deals Trump has struck with the European Union, Japan, South Korea and other major trading partners to reduce the “reciprocal” tariff rates on their imports, from the levels the administration originally set in April.
ADVERTISEMENT“We conclude Congress … did not give the president wide-ranging authority to impose tariffs” of the kind Trump imposed in his sweeping executive orders, the majority wrote.
The ruling also invalidates the tariffs that Trump has imposed on China, Canada and Mexico to pressure those countries to do more to stop shipments of fentanyl and precursor chemicals from entering the United States.
The ruling says that President Trump’s tariffs can remain in effect through mid-October so that his administration can appeal the ruling — and that’s exactly what they are planning to do!
Fox News has more:
In a 7-4 vote, the divided court allowed the tariffs to remain in place through Oct. 14 to give the Trump administration a chance to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court…
Trump has made tariffs a pillar of his second term as a way to compel other nations to renegotiate trade deals with the United States and to give the U.S. economic concessions.
“President Trump lawfully exercised the tariff powers granted to him by Congress to defend our national and economic security from foreign threats. The president’s tariffs remain in effect, and we look forward to ultimate victory on this matter.” White House spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News.
Revenue from tariffs totaled $142 billion by July, more than double what it was at the same point the year before. Congress has the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. But, in recent decades, lawmakers have ceded authority to the president, The Associated Press reported.
At issue was the legality of Trump’s attempt to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) — a 1977 emergency law — to enact the steep import fees and impose additional tariffs on certain trading partners.
The Trump administration argued that courts approved President Richard Nixon’s emergency use of tariffs in a 1971 economic crisis that arose from the chaos that followed his decision to end a policy linking the U.S. dollar to the price of gold, according to the AP.
ADVERTISEMENTTrump used the IEEPA law to enact the tariffs during his April 2 “Liberation Day” event.
President Trump responded to the ridiculous ruling on Truth Social, essentially telling them to go kick rocks!
The tariffs are still on!
Read his full statement here:
ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong. The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and Non Tariff Trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else. If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America. At the start of this Labor Day weekend, we should all remember that TARIFFS are the best tool to help our Workers, and support Companies that produce great MADE IN AMERICA products. For many years, Tariffs were allowed to be used against us by our uncaring and unwise Politicians. Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again! Thank you for your attention to this matter.
AG Pam Bondi also vowed that the DOJ will immediately appeal the ruling.
She wrote:
.@POTUS Trump found there was a national emergency and took action under the law by imposing tariffs.
The judges of the Federal Circuit are interfering with the President’s vital and constitutionally central role in foreign policy.
This decision is wrong and undermines the…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 29, 2025
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here..@POTUS Trump found there was a national emergency and took action under the law by imposing tariffs.The judges of the Federal Circuit are interfering with the President’s vital and constitutionally central role in foreign policy.This decision is wrong and undermines the United States on the world stage.
@TheJusticeDept will appeal this decision and continue to fight to restore the president’s lawful authority.






