US Appeals Court Reinstates Trump-Era Tariffs, Sparks Trade Uncertainty

A federal appeals court has abruptly reinstated former President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports, overturning a lower court’s decision that deemed the levies unlawful. The unsigned order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit sets the stage for expedited legal proceedings, with plaintiffs ordered to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9.

The reversal comes just days after the U.S. Court of International Trade in Manhattan ruled the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under emergency economic powers. That court had issued an immediate injunction, calling Trump’s declaration of a national emergency over trade deficits a misuse of statutes designed for genuine crises like wartime embargoes.

Small businesses challenging the tariffs warned the levies—which include general rates plus steep surcharges on goods from China, Canada and Mexico—would cause irreparable harm to import-reliant firms. The Justice Department continues defending the emergency declaration as the legal battle unfolds.