Trump suffers major setback in trade war

Major setback for the American president: on Wednesday, he learned that a court had blocked the 'reciprocal' tariffs imposed on goods entering the United States.

Although the possibility of increasing import surcharges was not challenged by the judges at the United States International Trade Court (ITC), the fact remains that the current tariffs are a prerogative of Congress. The judges therefore believe that Donald Trump exceeded his powers.

Furthermore, the court considers that the 1977 Emergency Economic Powers Act cannot be invoked by the occupant of the White House, as it was used to justify the use of presidential decrees in order to establish these tariffs, to “impose unlimited surcharges on products from almost every country”, according to the media outlet L’Indépendant. The judges stress that this law (IEEPA) “allows the president to take necessary economic sanctions in an emergency to fight an ‘extraordinary and unusual’ threat”. They emphasise that any interpretation granting “unlimited authority over tariffs is unconstitutional”.

America first

And from the White House, they have no intention of backing down. Kush Desai, spokesperson, announced: “President Trump pledged to put the United States first and the government is determined to use every lever of executive power to respond to this crisis and restore American greatness”, thus promising a fierce legal battle.

(MH with Manon Pierre - Source: L’Indépendant - Picture: ©picture alliance / NurPhoto | Andrew Thomas)