By Atoyebi Nike
The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court for a fast-tracked ruling to uphold tariffs imposed under emergency trade powers, warning that a recent appellate court decision has already weakened U.S. leverage in negotiations.
Solicitor General John Sauer, in a petition filed Wednesday, urged the justices to confirm “the full legal standing of the President’s tariffs” as quickly as possible, citing their critical role in ongoing talks with major trading partners.
The move follows a 7-4 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which held that President Trump exceeded his authority by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose sweeping duties. While the tariffs remain in place until mid-October, the ruling cast uncertainty over trade deals with the European Union, Japan, and others.
Trump has used the powers to enforce a 10 percent baseline tariff on nearly all trading partners, with higher rates on select economies, and to target Mexico, Canada, and China over drug trafficking concerns.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned in court filings that the appeals court’s ruling had stripped the administration of “substantial negotiating leverage.” The solicitor general asked the Supreme Court to schedule oral arguments by early November.
