US appeal court pauses ruling that blocked Trump from imposing most of his tariffs

A United States federal appeals court on Thursday (May 29) paused a ruling from the Court of International Trade that blocked most of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The ruling from the Court of International Trade, which was passed earlier on Wednesday (May 28), said that Trump did not have the authority under the International Emergency Powers Act to impose sweeping global tariffs last month, Reuters and CNN reported.

Ruling would stop global tariffs Trump imposed

The three-judge panel from the trade court said that the Constitution gave Congress, not the president, the authority to levy taxes and tariffs.

The ruling would stop the global tariffs that Trump imposed, as well as earlier tariffs he imposed against China, Mexico, and Canada.

The Trump administration appealed the decision immediately, and a pause from the appeals court came less than 24 hours later.

"Where do these initial three Judges come from? How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America? Is it purely a hatred of “TRUMP?” What other reason could it be?" Trump wrote on his Truth Social.

"The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs. In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!"

"Activist judges"

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday (May 29) described the three-judge panel as "activist judges" and that the ruling was an effort to "brazenly [abuse] their judicial power to usurp Trump's authority".

The appeals court has ordered both sides to provide written arguments pertaining to the blocking of Trump's tariffs, to be filed by early next month.

According to Reuters, Trump's trade war has cost companies more than US$34 billion (S$43 billion) in lost sales and higher costs.

Peter Navarro, Trump's top trade advisor, told reporters that the administration is exploring other ways to impose tariffs, in addition to appealing the case through the courts, CNN reported.

Navarro assured that Trump's tariff agenda is "alive, well, healthy" and will be implemented to protect the American people.

Top image via The White House/Facebook