Trump Vows Tariffs to Stay in Effect After Appeals Court Ruling

Washington, Aug. 30 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform early Saturday to denounce a federal appeals court decision that found his sweeping global tariffs unlawful, declaring that “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!” despite the ruling.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held on Friday that Trump had exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by imposing across-the-board duties on virtually all imports, affirming an earlier ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade. The decision, reached by a 7-4 vote, did not immediately lift the tariffs, leaving them in place pending potential Supreme Court review.

“Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling the ruling “a total disaster for the United States of America” and warning that its implementation “would literally destroy the United States” if allowed to stand. He urged Congress to uphold the levies, citing what he characterized as “enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs” imposed on American manufacturers and farmers.

Legal experts say the case now heads to the Supreme Court, where the administration is expected to seek a stay of the lower courts’ decisions. Unless overturned, the appellate court’s interpretation that the IEEPA does not expressly authorize tariff imposition could curtail presidential trade powers under national emergency declarations.

As of mid-October, the tariffs will remain operative, giving both the government and challengers-led by multiple states and industry groups-time to file further appeals.