You’ve no authority to impose tariffs against other countries, court tells Trump

A U.S. federal court has blocked President Donald Trump’s tariffs against other countries, a move seen as a significant blow to his economic agenda.

The Court of International Trade ruled that Trump does not have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs without Congress approval.

Apparently, the Trump administration has filed an appeal against the ruling.

The Manhattan-based court said the US Constitution gave Congress exclusive powers to regulate commerce with other nations and this was not superseded by the president’s remit to safeguard the economy.

The Trump administration lodged an appeal within minutes of the ruling.

The court also blocked a separate set of levies the Trump administration imposed on China, Mexico and Canada, in response to what it said was the unacceptable flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into the US.

However, the court was not asked to address tariffs imposed on some specific goods like cars, steel and aluminium, which fall under a different law.

BBC