US Court Rules Trump Tariffs Exceed Presidential Authority

President Donald Trump has aggressively utilized the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose and escalate tariffs on numerous U.S. trading partners, drawing legal challenges such as the recent invalidation of much of his tariff program by the U.S. Court of International Trade. His tariff strategy includes imposing steep rates, ranging from 20% up to 50%, on countries like Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and the European Union, often tying tariff threats to political demands or election interference, as seen in his ultimatum to Brazil regarding the legal case against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Despite announcing hard deadlines like August 1, 2025, Trump has repeatedly extended these deadlines to allow for ongoing negotiations, while also issuing warnings against countries aligning with BRICS, threatening economic penalties for pursuing de-dollarization or alternative currency systems. These actions have generated global economic uncertainty, with American consumers bearing the cost of higher prices and trading partners caught between U.S. demands and potential Chinese retaliation. Meanwhile, critics highlight the unpredictable and expansive use of presidential authority under IEEPA, emphasizing concerns over unbounded delegation and the absence of legislative checks on Trump's tariff regime.