Tariffs Case In Supreme Court: Trump Administration Reportedly Faces Skepticism From Conservative Justices

• Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett pressed Solicitor General D. John Sauer on a range of issues during early arguments.
• Chief Justice Roberts also said that Congress has the “core power” when it comes to tax regulation, while rejecting the Trump administration’s claim that tariffs are not taxes.
• Justice Neil Gorsuch, one of the six conservative members on the court, asked if there is a practical way for Congress to get back its power to regulate taxes.

The Trump administration reportedly faced skepticism from conservative justices during early arguments in the crucial tariffs case at the Supreme Court.

According to a CNN report, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett pressed the Trump administration on a range of issues. This included questioning whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) authorized President Donald Trump to impose emergency tariffs.

Tariffs And Taxes

Chief Justice Roberts also said that Congress has the “core power” when it comes to tax regulation, while rejecting the Trump administration’s claim that tariffs are not taxes.

“So to have the president’s foreign affairs power trump that basic power for Congress seems to me to kind of at least neutralize between the two powers, the executive power and the legislative power,” Roberts said, according to the report.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer defended President Trump’s tariffs by saying that these are regulatory levies, not revenue-raising tariffs. “The fact that they raise revenue was only incidental,” Sauer stated, according to a report by CNBC.

However, Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Sauer that these tariffs are generating money from American citizens. “You say tariffs are not taxes, but that’s exactly what they are,” she said.

Legality Questioned

The Supreme Court justices also questioned the legality of President Trump’s tariffs. Justice Neil Gorsuch, one of the six conservative members on the court, asked if there is a practical way for Congress to get back its power to regulate taxes.

“What happens when the president simply vetoes legislation to take these powers back?” Gorsuch asked, according to the CNBC report.

Implications On Foreign Policy

Chief Justice Roberts stated that the tariffs decision will have implications on the United States’ foreign policy, while questioning attorney Neal Katyal, who is representing the small businesses challenging President Trump’s tariffs, according to the CNN report.

Justice Barrett said that refunding the businesses that have paid tariffs would be a “mess.”

While the Supreme Court will not arrive at a decision in the Trump tariffs case on Wednesday, it is not clear yet when a judgment will be rendered.

Also See: Dan Ives Says Wall Street Is ‘Underestimating’ Scale And Scope Of AI Revolution: ‘Bears Have Never Understood This…’

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