Supreme Court Blocks Trump Tariffs Under Emergency Law

Beijing, China – The United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that President Donald Trump lacks the authority under a 1977 emergency powers law to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from nearly all trading partners, prompting China to urge Washington on Monday to cancel all such unilateral measures amid Trump's announcement of new duties.

The decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, invalidated Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy broad import duties, including a 10 percent worldwide tariff and targeted levies related to fentanyl and reciprocal trade actions. Roberts wrote that the law's provisions for regulating imports do not extend to imposing tariffs or duties, noting that no previous president had interpreted it that way. "IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties," he stated in the majority opinion, emphasizing the court's limited role under the Constitution. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito dissented.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce responded to the ruling by reaffirming Beijing's longstanding opposition to unilateral tariff hikes. "China has always opposed...