As the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks was ecstatic to learn of Friday’s Supreme Court ruling striking down President Donald Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs.
What You Need To Know
On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that a law, known as IEEPA, does not give the president the power to impose tariffs on any country
The law gives presidents broad economic powers in times of emergency
President Donald Trump responded by announcing a new 10% global tariff
Last week, Meeks successfully passed a resolution out of the House, labeling the tariffs that Trump levied on Canada, under a law giving presidents broad economic powers in times of emergency, illegal.
On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the law, known as IEEPA, does not give the president the power to impose tariffs on any country.
“The court agreed with what Democrats have said from day one. A president cannot ignore Congress and unilaterally slap these tariffs on the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
The decision did not cause Trump, who has centered his foreign and economic policy on tariffs, to retreat.
Instead, he announced new tariffs under a different legal mechanism.
“Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122,” the president said.
Trump previously used IEEPA to levy tariffs because it triggers fewer regulations than other legal mechanisms.
Moving forward, he will be limited in terms of the scope and duration of tariffs.
“He’s been doing it in an arbitrary and capricious way, quite frankly. And this [ruling] will prevent him from doing just that,” Meeks said.
Trump also lashed out against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries after Friday’s ruling.
Jeffries issued a statement calling on Trump to “refrain from any further unilateral action on tariffs.”
“I think he’s a low-IQ individual,” Trump said.
“The guy doesn’t even know what a tariff is,” he added.
Meeks told NY1 he will examine the president’s new tariffs and tariffs that remain intact. He said he was considering filing additional legislation to oppose them.
Hudson Valley Republican Rep. Mike Lawler said he felt the Supreme Court ruling, in which three conservative justices broke with the president, “reaffirms our system of checks and balances is alive and well.”
“I support President Trump’s push for fair and reciprocal trade agreements that protect American workers and taxpayers. Following today’s ruling, I look forward to working with the White House and with common-sense people in both parties to achieve those goals,” he added.