Trump Fights Tariff Ruling

The Trump administration on Friday appealed a U.S. Court of International Trade ruling that found a 10% global tariff, imposed in February 2026, was not justified under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. This appeal follows the court's 2-1 decision on Thursday, which determined that the trade law was not intended to address trade deficits, though the ruling only blocked tariffs for three specific importers: two small businesses and the state of Washington.

The court's decision represents a setback for the administration's tariff strategy, particularly as the tariffs were a temporary measure set to expire on July 24, 2026. This legal challenge also precedes an upcoming meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss trade tensions. The administration had implemented these replacement tariffs asourceser the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated earlier tariffs imposed under a national emergencies law in February 2026.

The appeal initiates another protracted legal dispute over potentially billions of dollars in tariff refunds. Despite this, the Trump administration plans to pursue broader tariffs against major trading partners by invoking Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, which addresses unfair trade practices and has historically withstood legal challenges. Three Section 301 tariff investigations are currently underway, with completion expected in July 2026.