Court Rules Trump Tariffs Not Legal

The Federal Court of Appeals has recently decided that President Donald Trump does not have the power to set tariffs on imports based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Dave Samuelson, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation said the court decision reaffirmed an earlier decision made by a lower court.

“ It said the president doesn't have authority under that international Emergency Economic Powers Act. He doesn't have the authority to impose tariffs. Well, the Court of Appeals said, you know, the lower court was right, so they upheld the Court of International Trade and said no no authority, Mr. President, to do tariffs under this statute.”

Despite the finding the appeals court did not force the administration to call off the tariffs.

“The tariffs continue, but administration, you have until October 14. That's the latest date that you can petition the Supreme Court to hear a case. So just to leave everything as it is, if you decide to take an appeal, then you go on. But for right now, even though we have this decision, nothing has changed on the tariff front.”

Samuelson says this process could take several months to unfold, pending the Supreme Court's decision on whether or not they will hear the administration's case. That is today's Line on Agriculture Report. I'm Lorrie Boyer for the Ag Information Network.