Durbin Statement On Court Of International Trade Striking Down President Trump's Tariff Tax
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Court of International Trade (CIT) issued a unanimous opinion striking down President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. In reaching its conclusion, the court held that President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in issuing the tariffs on the basis of purported national emergencies relating to fentanyl trafficking and the threat of persistent trade deficits.
“The Court of International Trade’s injunction stopping Donald Trump’s imposition of record breaking tariffs gives Congress the chance to declare Trump’s ‘emergency’ phony, while his violation of the Constitutional delegation of trade authority is very real.
“It’s time for Congress to stand up for struggling American families, put an end to Trump’s tariff tax roller coaster, and follow common sense and the law. But the question is, are Congressional Republican leaders listening?”
The ruling effectively nullifies the 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products; the 20 percent tariffs on Chinese products; the 10 percent tariffs on all U.S. trading partners; and the paused “reciprocal” tariffs of between 20 percent and 50 percent on approximately 60 additional trading partners, which were scheduled to go into effect on July 9. Meanwhile, a second federal court today also ruled that IEEPA does not authorize Trump’s tariffs, marking yet another blow to the Administration’s ill-conceived schemes.
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