Supreme Court sets oral arguments in tariff case

(The Center Square) – The Supreme Court said Thursday it will hear arguments Nov. 5. in a case critical to a wide swath of President Donald Trump's economic agenda.

The nation's highest court will hear oral arguments in a case challenging Trump's tariff authority long before Congress can weigh in on the president's rapid reordering of the global trade market in favor of American businesses.

A group of Democrat-led states, five small businesses, and two private companies took Trump to court saying the president overstepped his authority by hitting every U.S. trading partner with tariffs not seen in nearly a a century.

Trump has made tariffs the centerpiece of his economic agenda. Trump used a 1977 law that doesn't mention tariffs to reorder global trade in a matter of months through tariffs to try to give U.S. businesses an advantage in the world market. Using tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Trump put import duties of at least 10% on every nation that does business with the U.S.

The challengers argue that Congress, not the president, retains the power to tax. Trump says he has the authority and that his deals around the world are to benefit of all Americans.

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square