A federal appeals court will hear arguments over the legality of President Donald Trump’s «Liberation Day» tariff plan, a high-stakes court fight on the eve of its enforcement date.
A federal appeals court on Thursday will hear arguments over the legality of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan, a high-stakes court fight that comes just hours before Trump’s import duties and so-called «reciprocal» tariffs are slated to take force.
At issue before the Washington-based Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is Trump’s attempt to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act a 1977 emergency law — to enact the steep import fees, and impose additional tariffs on certain trading partners.
Thursday’s hearing comes less than 24 hours before Trump’s tariffs are slated to take force. Both sides have signaled they plan to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
On April 2, Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff on all countries, along with higher, reciprocal tariffs targeting select nations — including China. He said the measures would address trade imbalances, reduce deficits with key trading partners and boost domestic manufacturing and production.
However, whether emergency tariffs are the appropriate vehicle to accomplish this is an open question and one central to Thursday’s oral arguments before the appeals court.
Plaintiffs in V.O.S. Selections Inc. v. Trump will argue on Thursday that the looming tariffs have already introduced confusion and volatility into markets, threatening the bottom lines of small U.S. businesses and making it extremely difficult for owners to operate under shifting guidance that seems to change on a whim.
Small businesses in the U.S. have been hit with months of «complete uncertainty», Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel and director of litigation of the Liberty Justice Center, one of the groups representing small businesses in court, said in an interview Wednesday.
