Court Strikes Down Trump’s Latest 10% Global Tariffs as Unlawful

In yet another legal setback for Donald Trump’s tariff crusade, a US Court of International Trade has declared his 10% global tariffs unlawful. The tariffs, imposed in February under a dubious national emergency claim, were found to lack legal justification under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The ruling came from a three-judge panel that split 2-1, with the majority calling the tariffs “invalid” and “unauthorized by law.”

This ruling follows the Supreme Court’s February decision striking down even broader double-digit tariffs Trump had imposed in 2025, which affected most nations worldwide. Despite that clear rebuke, the Trump administration pressed forward with a similar tariff scheme, inflicting economic chaos and higher costs on American consumers and businesses.

The court’s decision directly blocks the tariffs from being applied in Washington state and against two private companies—a spice importer and a toy company—that challenged the levies. However, the court declined to issue a universal injunction, leaving the tariffs in place for all other importers until their scheduled expiration in July. The court also rejected a request from 24 states, mostly led by Democrats, to block the tariffs nationwide, citing lack of standing.

Trump predictably lashed out at the judges behind this ruling, dismissing them as “two radical left judges” and vowing to find another way to impose tariffs. This response underscores the administration’s disregard for the rule of law and its penchant for authoritarian overreach.

The immediate impact of the ruling is limited, but it signals mounting judicial resistance to Trump’s tariff abuses. Businesses continue to seek refunds after the Supreme Court’s earlier invalidation of Trump’s previous tariffs, which had collected an estimated $166 billion in duties.

The Trump administration can appeal this latest decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and potentially back to the Supreme Court. But the growing legal defeats highlight the administration’s reckless trade war tactics that have hurt American workers, alienated allies, and fueled corporate cronyism.

This ruling is another chapter in the ongoing saga of Trump’s tariff policies—marked by economic damage, legal battles, and executive overreach. It exposes the administration’s willingness to flout legal constraints and impose costly tariffs under questionable pretenses, all while blaming courts and opponents for the fallout. The American public deserves better than this chaotic, unlawful trade policy that prioritizes political theater over economic stability.