In a major legal setback for former US President Donald Trump, the US Court of International Trade has declared his global tariffs on metals as illegal. The court ruled that the administration exceeded its authority by imposing duties on steel and aluminum imports under the justification of national security.
Trump had originally invoked Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to slap tariffs on several countries, arguing that foreign metal imports posed a threat to America’s security and industry. However, the court found this reasoning flawed and lacking lawful basis, stating that such sweeping actions must be better justified and more narrowly tailored.
The ruling emphasized that any use of national security as a reason for imposing tariffs must comply with specific legal and procedural standards—which, in this case, the Trump administration failed to meet. As a result, the court has ordered the removal of these tariffs, calling them an overreach of presidential power.
This decision is likely to affect a wide array of trade relationships and has been welcomed by industry stakeholders who argued that the tariffs increased costs and disrupted global supply chains.
Legal experts say the court’s decision reinforces the need for checks and balances in matters of international trade, especially when economic actions are cloaked under national security claims. The Biden administration has not yet commented on the ruling or its possible implications going forward.
