Trump wins again! The U.S. Court of Appeals allows the continuation of 10% global tariffs; also proposes a symbolic resolution to "eliminate impeachment"

A U.S. federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the government may continue collecting the 10% global tariffs imposed by Trump in February under Article 122 of the 1974 Trade Act during the period of legal disputes, overturning the International Trade Court’s prior unlawful ruling. The case is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court again. At the same time, The Wall Street Journal exclusively reported that Trump is pushing, with allies, a symbolic resolution that attempts to “erase” the two impeachment records from his first term, but the measure would likely not be considered until after the November midterm elections.
(Background Recap: Breaking News — U.S. Supreme Court Rules Trump’s $175 Billion in Tariffs Illegal! White House Says It Has a Plan, Bitcoin Dips Into a Needle at $68k)
(Additional Context: U.S. Trade Court Rules Trump’s 10% Global Tariffs Illegal; DOJ Prepares to Appeal, Market Uncertainty Continues to Escacerbate)

Two major Trump-related developments emerged in U.S. politics on Thursday. On the legal front, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration may continue imposing the 10% global tariffs, further escalating this legal battle and likely taking it all the way to the Supreme Court. On the political front, Trump’s camp is pushing a symbolic resolution in an attempt to “erase” the two impeachments that occurred during his first term from the official record.

Appeals Court Rules: 10% Tariffs Can Continue, Legal Fight Headed to the Supreme Court

According to Reuters, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday extended a stay on rulings by lower courts, allowing the government to continue enforcing the 10% global tariffs Trump announced in February this year during the ongoing legal dispute. The court said the government’s arguments have “reasonable grounds to suggest a likelihood of success.”

The case stems from lawsuits filed by three importers—two small businesses and Washington state (which paid tariffs for procurement for the University of Washington). In May, the U.S. International Trade Court (CIT) ruled 2-1 that the 10% tariffs imposed by Trump under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 were also invalid, finding that the “fundamental international payment issues” under that provision do not cover trade deficits. The appeals court’s ruling temporarily freezes the enforceability of that decision.

This is the second time Trump’s tariff policy has faced a judicial challenge. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump’s earlier “reciprocal tariffs” imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful. Trump then immediately reimposed the 10% global tariffs using Section 122 of the Trade Act, which had never been used to impose tariffs before, with the rate expected to expire on July 24. Legal experts predict that the case may ultimately be decided again by the Supreme Court.

Trump’s Camp Plans to “Erase Two Impeachment Records”

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported exclusively that Trump and his allies are discussing pushing a congressional resolution to declare the two impeachments he faced during his first presidential term invalid. In a phone interview, Trump said, “It should be done because I didn’t do anything wrong.”

However, experts say the resolution has almost no legal significance, because the Constitution does not provide a procedure to rescind impeachments. Any attempt to erase the two impeachments in 2019 (abuse of power and obstruction of Congress) and 2021 (incitement of insurrection) would force Republican lawmakers to revisit debates about Trump’s past conduct. Insiders said the measure is very likely to be formally considered only after the November midterm elections, and even then, multiple House Republicans have said it would be difficult to secure enough votes to pass it.