NextFin news, On Friday, September 19, 2025, the Trump administration urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold President Donald Trump's power to impose broad tariffs on nearly all imported goods into the United States. The filing was made in Washington, D.C., where the Supreme Court is located.
U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, representing the government before the court, argued that the tariffs promote peace and economic prosperity, warning that denying tariff authority would expose the U.S. to trade retaliation and economic harm. The administration's 49-page brief contends that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) authorizes the president to regulate imports, including imposing tariffs, during a declared national emergency.
The tariffs at issue were imposed beginning in February 2025 through executive orders by President Trump. They fall into two categories: "trafficking" tariffs targeting goods from Canada, China, and Mexico to combat fentanyl flow, and "reciprocal" tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on products from most other countries.
Three legal challenges have been filed against the tariffs. Two small businesses, Learning Resources and hand2mind, claim the tariffs will cost them $100 million in 2025. Another suit by five small businesses, including Terry Cycling, and a separate suit by 12 states led by Oregon, argue the tariffs increase costs for businesses and state governments.
Lower courts, including U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras and the Court of International Trade, ruled that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under IEEPA. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld this view on August 29, 2025, stating that such sweeping tariffs require clear congressional authorization, which was not found.
The Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court on September 3, 2025, and the court agreed to hear the case, scheduling oral arguments for November 5, 2025. Both the small businesses and states involved have also asked the court to review the case.
In its brief, the administration emphasized that tariffs are a traditional method of regulating imports and that IEEPA's language clearly authorizes such measures. It argued that procedural limits within IEEPA and the National Emergencies Act constrain tariff duration and provide congressional oversight.
The administration also challenged the application of the "major questions" doctrine used by the Federal Circuit, asserting it does not apply in foreign affairs where the president has broad authority. It urged the court to uphold the president's determination that trade deficits and drug trafficking constitute national emergencies justifying the tariffs.
Finally, the government contended that the initial lawsuit filed in federal district court should have been brought in the Court of International Trade, which has exclusive jurisdiction over tariff-related claims.
The challengers are expected to file their briefs by October 20, 2025, as the Supreme Court prepares for the November hearing.
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