Source: Los Angeles Times
“The Supreme Court justices sounded skeptical Wednesday of President Trump’s claim that he has the power to set large tariffs on products coming from countries around the world. Most of the justices, both conservative and liberal, said Congress, not the president, had the power to impose taxes and tariffs. And they agreed Congress did not authorize tariffs in an emergency powers law adopted in 1977. It has ‘never before been used to justify tariffs, and no one had argued it before this case,’ Chief Justice John G. Roberts told Trump’s top courtroom attorney. ‘The imposition of taxes on Americans … has always been a core power of Congress.’ Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer argued that tariffs involve the president’s power over foreign affairs. They are ‘regulatory tariffs, not taxes,’ he said.” (11/05/25)