In April of the past year, President Trump levied global tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 50 per cent. The dramatic change in trading policy sparked worldwide concern in the jewellery industry, including the diamond trade in India, the opal trade in Australia, and the broader luxury goods industry in Europe.
In a 6-3 vote, the US Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs exceeded the president's authority. The six justices who voted against the tariffs were John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“[We have] concluded that IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) did not grant the president the power to impose tariffs,” the ruling explained.
“It is also telling that in IEEPA’s half-century of existence, no president has invoked the stature to impose any tariffs, let alone tariffs of this magnitude and scope.
“That ‘lack of historical precedent,’ coupled with the breadth of authority that the president now claims, suggests that the tariffs extend beyond the president’s ‘legitimate reach.’”
Trump took to social media to air his frustrations with the decision, saying he was “ashamed” of the court’s decision.
“Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic, and dancing in the streets — but they won’t be dancing for long,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
“Other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones that the court incorrectly rejected.”
The three judges who dissented were Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh.
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