Court Slaps Down Trump: Overturns Retaliatory Tariffs and Accuses Him of Power Abuse

In a monumental setback for the former president, a U.S. court has struck down Donald Trump’s retaliatory tariffs, accusing him of overstepping his authority. The specialized U.S. Court of International Trade ruled on Wednesday (May 28, 2025), invalidating the minimum 10% retaliatory customs duties imposed on all foreign products entering the U.S., arguing that only Congress holds the power to make such decisions. According to the court, Trump improperly invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify executive orders imposing tariffs, effectively allowing ‘unlimited additional duties’ on goods from nearly all countries. The court criticized these April 2 executive orders as exceeding presidential powers granted under IEEPA, which permits action only in cases of economic emergency. In a written opinion accompanying the decision, an unnamed judge highlighted that granting ‘unlimited’ tariff-setting authority to the president undermines Congress’s legislative power, violating the U.S. Constitution. Trump immediately filed an appeal against the federal court’s ruling, vowing to continue enforcing his tariffs on practically all imported products. A White House spokesperson attacked ‘unelected judges’ for interfering with national emergency responses, emphasizing Trump’s commitment to ‘putting America first’ and restoring its greatness.