US supreme court hears oral arguments on legality of Trump imposing tariffs

"Justices started to hear oral arguments this morning on the legality of using emergency powers to impose tariffs on almost every US trading partner. In a series of executive orders issued earlier this year, Trump cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, a 1977 law which in some circumstances grants the president authority to regulate or prohibit international transactions during a national emergency, as he slapped steep duties on imports into the US."

"The supreme court controlled by a rightwing supermajority that was crafted by Trump will review whether IEEPA grants the president the authority to levy a tariff, a word not mentioned in the law. Congress is granted sole authority under the constitution to levy taxes. The court has until the end of its term, in July 2026, to issue a ruling on the case. Lower courts have ruled against Trump's tariffs, prompting appeals from the Trump administration, setting up this latest test of Trump's presidential power."

Justices began hearing oral arguments on whether the president can use emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on almost every US trading partner. The IEEPA is a 1977 law that can authorize regulation or prohibition of international transactions during a national emergency, but the statute does not mention the word tariff. The supreme court, controlled by a rightwing supermajority crafted by Trump, will decide whether IEEPA authorizes levying tariffs despite the constitution granting Congress sole taxing authority. Lower courts ruled against the tariffs and the administration appealed. The court must rule by July 2026. A ruling for the administration would expand presidential economic power and revenue; a ruling against would force policy recalibration.

Read at www.theguardian.com