Trade Court Rules Trump’s 10% Global Tariffs Illegal

A U.S. trade court ruled on Thursday that President Trump’s 10% global tariffs are illegal, blocking the levies that were imposed two months earlier after the Supreme Court struck down prior broad tariffs. ” The ruling gives the administration five days to rescind the tariffs and requires refunds plus interest to affected importers.

The decision applies only to three plaintiffs — two private firms and Washington State — representing a small fraction of total U.S. imports. The court dismissed claims from other non-importer parties for lack of standing.

The tariffs struck down Thursday were instituted after the Supreme Court invalidated the earlier “Liberation Day” tariffs in February. Section 122 tariffs can remain in place for only 150 days and are scheduled to expire on July 24. The administration will appeal the ruling to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and seek a stay before the order takes effect on May 12.

Even if the ruling is upheld on appeal, judicial timelines suggest any final Supreme Court decision would likely come after the tariffs expire. The U.S. Trade Representative is conducting investigations under Section 301 that are expected to produce replacement tariffs on unfair trade practices before July 24.

The deadline came as European officials fell short of full agreement on the pact. Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with the EU chief and agreed to the deadline tied to the U.S. 250th birthday. The statement was issued on the same day the trade court issued its ruling against the global tariffs.

The tariffs currently generate roughly $11-12 billion per month in customs duties. They account for slightly less than half of new tariffs put in place since the start of 2025 that remain in effect after earlier court losses.

Tariffs Expected Under Different Authorities Section