Interpret today's news:

1. The U.S. Court of International Trade has ruled that the global tariffs announced by the Trump administration on "Liberation Day" violate the law and exceed the President's authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA). This ruling permanently prohibits the enforcement of these tariffs and requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop collecting the related tariffs within 10 days.
2. The court pointed out that the Trump administration treated long-standing issues such as trade deficits and the influx of illegal drugs as a "national emergency," using this as a basis to impose tariffs. However, these justifications failed to meet the "unusual and extraordinary threat" standard required by the IEEPA. Therefore, the court concluded that the president did not have the authority to unilaterally impose such broad tariffs in this case.
3. The Trump administration has appealed the ruling and may seek a temporary injunction during the appeal process to restore the imposition of tariffs. However, the three judges unanimously found that the president's actions exceeded statutory authority.
4. The court's ruling primarily targets the "Day of Liberation" global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, (IEEPA), arguing that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally impose such broad tariffs in this context. However, the court did not negate the president's ability to implement tariff measures under other legal authorizations, such as Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Therefore, the Trump administration can still continue to implement certain tariff policies under other laws.
5. Although the court ruling limited the president's tariff authority under the IEEPA, the White House may seek other legal grounds or administrative means to continue advancing its trade policy. The Trump administration may temporarily impose import taxes on countries with significant trade deficits with the United States based on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
6. According to the ruling of the U.S. International Trade Court, if the Trump administration's appeal fails and the decision becomes final, companies that have paid the deemed illegal "liberation day" tariffs will be entitled to refunds, including interest. According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), since the implementation of these tariffs in January 2025, the average daily revenue has been approximately $250 million, with a cumulative total exceeding $21 billion.
7. The main plaintiff pushing for a lawsuit against the Trump administration's "Day of Liberation" tariffs is the American nonprofit legal organization Liberty Justice Center (, which represents five small importing companies in the lawsuit. These companies include a wine and spirits importer based in New York. Additionally, 12 states led by Oregon have also filed similar legal challenges against the Trump administration.
Overall, this is a significant challenge to Trump's political career, as the main thing Trump has done since taking office is tariffs. If the tariffs are ruled "illegal," it would be a major blow to Trump and the Republican Party, especially since many of Trump's executive orders would come under scrutiny.