Arguments Heard

The Supreme Court heard arguments over President Trump's authority to impose sweeping tariffs.

Context

The Constitution explicitly grants Congress, not the president, the power to levy taxes and tariffs. However, lawmakers have delegated some of that authority to the executive branch through various statutes over the years. Trump has claimed that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) gives him the power to impose tariffs, though the law does not specifically mention the word "tariff." No previous president had used IEEPA to impose tariffs, though presidents have imposed tariffs under other statutes.

Justices Skeptical

On Wednesday, both liberal and conservative justices questioned whether Trump had overstepped his authority by imposing sweeping tariffs on many countries.