Supreme Court Gets First Chance to Weigh in on Donald Trump's Tariffs

Source: Newsweek

Published Jun 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM EDT | Updated Jun 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM EDT


Two small toy companies have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Donald Trump's global tariffs, arguing that he exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Why It Matters

The Supreme Court's decision on whether to hear the case could have significant implications for the scope of executive power in trade policy. Trump's tariffs led to global market turmoil, particularly after the president rolled out hefty tariffs targeting almost every U.S. trading partner on April 2, which he dubbed "liberation day." The president has since backtracked on the initial announcement, but the U.S. tariff policy remains in flux.

What To Know

Tuesday's petition comes from an earlier case in which a federal judge sided with two Chicago-based toy companies and ruled that Trump overstepped his powers when invoking the IEEPA to impose tariffs. The Trump administration appealed the ruling, which was limited to the two toy companies, after which the plaintiffs went to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"In light of the tariffs' massive impact on virtually every business and consumer across the nation, and the unremitting whiplash caused by the unfettered tariffing power the president claims, challenges to the IEEPA tariffs cannot await the normal appellate process [even on an expedited timeline]," the family owned toy companies, Learning Resources Inc. and hand2mind Inc., said in their petition to the high court. "There is ample reason for this Court to grant certiorari before judgment now so this case can be briefed over the summer and argued as soon as possible."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/supreme-court-gets-first-chance-weigh-donald-trump-tariffs-2086898