Appeals Court Pauses Ruling Against Trump-Era Tariffs, Fueling Trade Policy Uncertainty

U.S. Appeals Court Pauses Ruling Against Trump-Era Tariffs, Fueling Trade Policy Uncertainty

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has temporarily halted the enforcement of a lower court’s ruling that invalidated tariffs imposed under former President Donald Trump. The decision came without explanation, granting the Trump administration's emergency request to pause the ruling pending appeal.

The original ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade had struck down tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), questioning its legitimacy as a basis for trade duties. The decision had targeted retaliatory tariffs and import duties imposed on certain countries during Trump’s presidency.

With the appellate court’s pause, the tariffs will remain in place until a final decision is made on appeal. However, this temporary stay deepens the legal and economic uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy.

Separately, a federal court in D.C. sided with two educational toy companies, blocking IEEPA-based tariffs in their specific case. The court noted that IEEPA had never been used in 50 years to justify tariff implementation, suggesting legal overreach.

These conflicting rulings highlight mounting policy ambiguity in U.S. international trade enforcement — with potentially significant implications depending on the outcome of the appeal.