Obama-appointed Judge Rudolph Contreras has issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Contreras called the tariffs “unlawful,” adding that the “International Economic Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose the tariffs set forth” in several executive orders.
A federal court also ruled that President Trump overstepped his authority under the IEEPA.
“The Worldwide and Retaliatory Tariff Orders exceed any authority granted to the President by IEEPA to regulate importation by means of tariffs. The Trafficking Tariffs fail because they do not deal with the threats set forth in those orders,” the ruling said. “This conclusion entitles Plaintiffs to judgment as a matter of law; as the court further finds no genuine dispute as to any material fact, summary judgment will enter against the United States. The challenged Tariff Orders will be vacated and their operation permanently enjoined.”
Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett said the ruling will not affect Trump’s ongoing negotiations. “There are many, many deals coming. And there were three that basically look like they’re done,” he said on Mornings with Maria. “It’s certainly not going to affect the negotiations. Because in the end, people know President Trump is 100% serious and they have also seen that President Trump always wins.”
“In a month or two, you are going to look ahead and see that countries have opened their markets to American products, they have lowered their nontariff barriers, they lowered their tariffs and all the countries that have done that are being treated very respectfully and well by the U.S.,” he explained, noting that countries unwilling to open markets to the United States are “going to see some form of reciprocal tariffs.”
