The US Supreme Court declined to fast-track the case challenging Trump’s use of tariff powers under the IEEPA.
The US Supreme Court has declined a request on 20 June 2025, to fast-track the case challenging President Donald Trump’s extensive use of tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The case involves Learning Resources, an educational toy company’s legal challenge against tariffs imposed during the Trump administration.
The company secured a court ruling on 29 May 2025, stating that Trump cannot unilaterally impose tariffs under the emergency legal authority he had invoked. However, the ruling is currently on hold, meaning the tariffs remain in effect for the time being.
Learning Resources has petitioned the Supreme Court to take the unusual step of directly hearing the case regarding the legality of the tariffs. This move would bypass the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington, where the case is currently under review.
Two district courts have ruled that Trump’s tariffs are unjustified under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and both cases are on appeal. No court has supported the broad emergency tariff authority Trump claims.
Earlier, on 28 May 2025, the US Court of International Trade ruled in cases brought by small businesses and several US states, including Oregon, against the Trump Administration’s tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA).
The Court ruled that the President cannot impose unlimited tariffs under the IEEPA and struck them down. However, on 29 May 2025, the US Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay during the Trump Administration’s appeal.
On 10 June 2025, the federal appeals court upheld the continuation of Trump’s tariffs while reviewing the lower court’s decision, which argued he exceeded his authority.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, DC, ruled that Trump can continue enforcing his Liberation Day tariffs he imposed on 2 April 2025, on imports from most trading partners, including Canada, China, and Mexico.
