Mr. Trump’s top economic advisers made it clear on Sunday that a recent court ruling, which labeled many of the administration’s tariffs as illegal, would not stop them from pushing ahead.
They mentioned that the White House still has other legal tools it can use to push China and other nations to the negotiation table.
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These advisers also suggested that Mr. Trump is not planning to stretch the initial 90-day delay he put on some of the toughest tariffs. That means those high tariffs, which had already shaken financial markets when first announced, are likely to go into effect by July as scheduled.
Officials Double Down on Tariffs Despite Court Ruling
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed during an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that the administration still fully supports the tariff policy. “Tariffs are here to stay,” he said, reassuring viewers that there’s no plan to pull back on them.
When asked about the status of the reciprocal tariffs that were first introduced and then paused in April, Lutnick responded by saying he does not expect any extension to the pause at this time.
Court Ruling Triggers Legal Questions Around Tariff Policy
The administration’s aggressive trade approach hit new legal boundaries last week after a federal trade court ruled that Trump misused an emergency economic powers law while trying to use tariffs as leverage for global trade deals.
Although the court’s ruling could have quickly stopped those duties, a temporary administrative delay was granted by an appeals court. This pause allows the legal teams time to prepare their arguments, with expectations that the case could eventually be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
According to the White House, if the court rules against the tariffs, it could disrupt trade negotiations and weaken the president’s standing with other global leaders.
Trump echoed this concern in a social media post, claiming that such a ruling would let foreign countries “hold our Nation hostage” and bring about “Economic ruination” for the U.S.
Only One Trade Framework Reached So Far
During his campaign, Trump promised that the administration would complete 90 trade deals in 90 days. However, up to this point, only a single framework has been introduced, and that one involves Britain.
Despite this, Lutnick insisted that Trump has not lost momentum. He brushed off the court’s ruling as only a minor delay, saying it might have cost them “a week, maybe.” He also expressed optimism that better agreements are still ahead.
Trump took another swing at China on Friday, accusing Beijing of going against the trade understanding it reached with Washington. That agreement involved both sides reducing tariffs while they worked on a longer-term resolution.
The president then revealed his plan to double the existing tariffs on imported steel, raising the rate to 50 percent. This change could mean higher prices for American consumers, especially those in sectors like construction and manufacturing.
