President Donald Trump’s administration has asked the US Supreme Court to swiftly step in and uphold the sweeping tariffs that have shaken global markets, arguing that a lower court ruling has already weakened America’s hand in trade negotiations.
In a petition filed Wednesday, Solicitor General John Sauer pressed the justices to move quickly, urging them to “expedite resolution of this case to the maximum extent feasible, given the enormous importance of quickly confirming the full legal standing of the President’s tariffs.”
The appeal follows a 7-4 decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which ruled that Trump exceeded his authority when he used emergency economic powers to impose broad-based duties. While the judges allowed the tariffs to remain in effect until mid-October, they left the administration scrambling for a definitive ruling from the nation’s highest court.
Since reclaiming the presidency, Trump has leaned heavily on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, rolling out “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly all US trading partners. The baseline levy stands at 10 percent, with higher rates applied to dozens of economies, including the European Union and Japan. Separate measures were also aimed at Mexico, Canada, and China, with the White House framing the move as part of a crackdown on the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
The appellate court’s ruling, however, raised serious questions about Trump’s legal authority to act under the emergency statute. It also put into doubt the future of trade agreements struck with allies such as the EU, while leaving billions of dollars in collected tariff revenue hanging in the balance should the Supreme Court rule against him.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a declaration attached to the petition, cautioned that the appeals court decision had stripped the administration of “substantial negotiating leverage” at a critical time.
The solicitor general has asked the Supreme Court to hear oral arguments as early as November, setting up what could become a pivotal legal battle over the reach of presidential power in global trade.
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