Trump Tariff Policy Temporarily Reinstated as Federal Appeals Court Cites National Security Grounds
In a swift legal turnaround, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has temporarily reinstated former President Donald Trump's contentious tariff regime, less than 24 hours after a lower federal court had ordered its suspension. The move underscores the ongoing legal and political wrangling surrounding Trump's use of emergency powers to reshape American trade policy.
The appellate court granted an emergency stay sought by the Trump administration, which argued that lifting the tariffs could compromise national security. The court&rsquo;s decision, while interim, effectively revives a central tenet of Trump's economic agenda &mdash; a unilateral imposition of tariffs on a wide range of imports under the aegis of national emergency powers.
At the heart of the legal battle is Trump&rsquo;s invocation of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a statute historically intended for financial sanctions rather than broad trade policy. A three-judge panel from the US Court of International Trade had ruled on Wednesday that Trump had acted beyond the legal limits of the IEEPA by declaring a sweeping national emergency and applying tariffs on goods from nearly every country, thereby subverting established statutory checks.
The ruling was a significant blow to Trump's approach to economic nationalism, which has been marked by erratic trade decisions, market volatility, and rising business costs. It also reignited debate over the expansive use of executive power in areas traditionally governed by Congress.
In its emergency appeal, the Trump legal team argued that judicial review of the president's decision to declare a national emergency was impermissible, citing longstanding precedent that grants the executive wide latitude in national security matters. Government lawyers further drew parallels to the Nixon administration&rsquo;s use of emergency trade powers &mdash; a reference aimed at reinforcing the legitimacy of Trump&rsquo;s interpretation of executive authority.
While the court has not made a final determination on the legality of the tariffs, the temporary stay signals a willingness to entertain the administration&rsquo;s national security rationale. The reinstatement also provides a temporary reprieve for Trump&rsquo;s broader economic doctrine, which views tariffs not merely as a tool of trade correction but as a pillar of sovereign economic assertion.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro hinted at the administration&rsquo;s resolve to maintain its tariff framework, suggesting that if courts ultimately reject the current approach, alternative legal mechanisms would be explored to preserve what the administration sees as a vital policy instrument.
The case now proceeds on appeal, with significant implications for the balance of power between the executive branch and the judiciary &mdash; and for the future architecture of global trade relations under the guise of national security.

Appeals court stay revives Trump's emergency tariffs amid legal battle on presidential powers.

Trump Tariffs Temporarily Reinstated by US Court

Appeals court stay revives Trump's emergency tariffs amid legal battle on presidential powers.

May 30, 2025 | 11:50 IST

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