The clash between executive power and constitutional limits intensified this week, as the U.S. Court of Appeals temporarily overruled a landmark decision against the Trump-era “Liberation Day” tariffs. The stay means the controversial import duties will remain active as the case continues.
Initially struck down by the U.S. Court of International Trade, the tariffs were ruled to exceed presidential authority under the Constitution. The court found that the use of the IEEPA to levy broad economic sanctions against trading partners was not within the intended scope of the statute.
Legal experts emphasize that the implications reach far beyond the realm of trade policy. “This is a stress test of the separation of powers,” noted constitutional scholar Dr. Karen Esposito. “How much economic might can a president wield unilaterally?”
The Trump administration used the IEEPA to justify tariffs on grounds of national security and economic independence. That framing is now under judicial review, and the Biden administration’s decision to defend the measures adds a bipartisan twist to the constitutional debate.
With briefing deadlines approaching in early June, industry groups and legal teams are bracing for a defining court battle that could alter the legal framework for future trade and sanctions policy.
