The Supreme Court appeared skeptical during oral arguments Wednesday of President Donald Trump’s power to implement a broad worldwide tariff regime, although some justices sounded reluctant to potentially limit presidential authority over foreign affairs.
The Trump administration has asked the justices to overturn a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit which stated that the tariffs overstepped the emergency authority Congress gave to presidents in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, or IEEPA.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued Wednesday the law included broad powers over trade, including the power to “regulate” imports to deal with an emergency. He told the justices the tariffs were designed to regulate trade, not raise revenue.
