Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, world blocked by U.S. trade court

The U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday ruled President Donald Trump exceeded his authority under an emergency-powers law to impose tariffs on Canada.

The U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday struck down U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canada and the rest of the world, ruling he exceeded his authority under an emergency-powers law.

The three-judge panel’s decision blocks both the fentanyl and border security-related tariffs on Canada and Mexico and the global “reciprocal tariffs” Trump imposed in April that have unleashed widespread economic chaos.

“The challenged tariff orders will be vacated and their operation permanently enjoined,” the ruling says.

Trump declared a national emergency on fentanyl earlier this year to justify the tariffs on Canada and Mexico, saying they were necessary to elicit action from those countries to curb the flow of the deadly opioid.

He later ordered the United States’ trade deficits with several countries also amount to a national emergency, dubbing his April 2 announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs as “Liberation Day.”

Both emergencies were declared under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPPA), which the Trump administration argued gives the president broad power over how to respond, including through actions on imports to the U.S.

But the court sided with several states and businesses that challenged the tariffs over the economic harm the plaintiffs said was caused, and that only Congress has authority under the U.S. constitution to approve tariffs.

The White House said in a statement to Global News that the court did not dispute the harms caused by the trade “emergency” Trump declared. It did not say if the administration will appeal the decision, although it is expected to.