#TrumpTariffs "The Trump administration is lawfully exercising the powers granted by the executive branch of the Constitution and Congress to address national emergencies related to the ongoing trade deficit in goods and illegal drug trafficking. The U.S. Court of Appeals' order to stay is a long-awaited event," said White House spokesperson Kush Desai in a statement.
Trump cited broad powers to impose tariffs under IEEPA. The 1977 law has historically been used to impose sanctions against U.S. enemies or to freeze their assets. Trump is the first U.S. president to use it to impose tariffs.
Trump stated that the tariffs imposed in February on Canada, China, and Mexico were aimed at combating the illegal trafficking of fentanyl at U.S. borders, which these three countries deny, and that the comprehensive tariffs for all U.S. trading partners, implemented in April, were a response to the U.S. trade balance deficit.
States and small businesses argued that tariffs are not a lawful or proper way to address these issues, and small businesses contended that the longstanding U.S. practice of purchasing more goods than it exports does not qualify as an emergency that could trigger IEEPA.
