Last Wednesday, the Court of International Trade delivered a decisive verdict, declaring that ex-President Donald Trump overstepped his boundaries in employing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to enforce unilateral taxes on global products. The 1977 Act equips the president with the means to tackle any unexpected or extreme menaces to the United States’ national safety, foreign affairs, or financial status.
Traditionally, the IEEPA had never been exploited to sanction tariffs through the power of presidential decrees. It was designed to allow the president to proactively counter foreign threats impacting the U.S., through levying sanctions, freezing assets, and other such reactive measures. Yet, it contains not a single notation about tariffs.
Under Trump, however, this act was twisted to lend credibility to a rash introduction of tariffs, even as the argument used to bolster this action was neither a state of urgency nor a singular or severe threat. Trade shortfalls have seen the light of the day for countless years without being deemed cataclysms or menaces to security.
Appallingly, the Trump administration went so far as to slap tariffs onto countries that aren’t even contributing to the U.S. trade deficit. Such an outrageous misuse of power didn’t go unnoticed by the legal authorities, who had no choice but to rule against the administration.
Thus, the court had its say in the two pending cases. The central issue was whether the IEEPA really did assign the president the freedom to levy boundless tariffs on imports from virtually every nation across the globe. In the eyes of the court, the IEEPA did not extend such a vast amount of power, leading to the nullification of the contested tariffs launched under it.
Following the pronouncement, a federal appeals court temporarily froze the Court of International Trade’s judgement due to ongoing legal deliberations. Meanwhile, another federal court echoed the sentiment, stating that ‘the International Economic Emergency Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose the tariffs stipulated’.
The Trump administration stood its ground by trying, albeit in vain, to justify its unjustifiable deeds. There is an established procedure for implementing measures in the United States, and if former President Trump was fixated on hiking up taxes, he should have approached it through the proper channels of Congress.
This is even more pronounced in the case of tariffs since the Constitution expressly grants Congress, and not the President, the authority to regulate trade. Yet, Trump seemed to bypass Congress and impose tax increases, which not unsurprisingly spurred real consequences and set forth potential hazards.
The Tax Foundation, a renowned organization specializing in policy research, offered some staggering numbers to back this up. They deduced that the tariffs enforced would diminish market revenues by 1.1% in 2026 (0.9% due to the IEEPA tariffs and an additional 0.3% due to other tariffs, with the figures rounded for simplicity).
Not to mention the rising financial burden on the average American household, projected to take a hit of $1,155 in 2025 and a whopping $1,397 in 2026 due to these tax hikes. Unveiling these figures paints a grim picture of Trump’s reckless and detrimental strategy, which disregarded proper procedure and inflicted substantial financial damage.
To reflect back on the happenings, the blatant misinterpretation and misuse of power led to an unnecessary financial threat that jeopardized the stability of the U.S.’s economy. Despite the apparent indications opposing Trump’s cavalier approach, the then administration forged ahead, blatantly rejecting any hints of rationality and prudence.
The overtures of self-interest at the cost of the American public is apparent in Trump’s conduct. While most leaders aim to uplift their citizens, the Trump administration seemed to have pulled the strings in their own favor, prioritizing their tactics over the holistic well-being of society.
The verdict against the Trump administration is a reminder of the importance for leaders to prioritize due process, respect established laws, and act in the best interest of their citizens. It’s a valuable lesson that sunlight is the best disinfectant; when leaders exploit their power for personal gains, they don’t just risk being caught, they expose the well-being of their citizens to grave danger.
Overall, the Trump administration’s flagrant disregard for due process and proper authority terribly tarnished the confidence of the American public in leadership. Going forward, it should serve as a reminder to future leaders to act not out of personal interest, but for the betterment of the society they have pledged to serve.
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