Trump administration takes tariffs fight to the US Supreme Court

Donald J. Trump’s administration asked the US Supreme Court on Wednesday to swiftly hear a bid to preserve his sweeping tariffs pursued under a 1977 law meant for emergencies after a lower court invalidated most of the levies that have been central to the Republican president’s economic and trade agenda.

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The Justice department appealed an Aug. 29 ruling by a federal appeals court that the President overstepped his authority in invoking the law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), undercutting a major Trump priority in his second term.

The administration asked the court to fast track its review by deciding whether to take up the case by Sept. 10 and holding arguments in November. The court’s new term begins on Oct. 6.

“The stakes in this case could not be higher,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer said in a written filing.

“The President and his cabinet officials have determined that the tariffs are promoting peace and unprecedented economic prosperity, and that the denial of tariff authority would expose our nation to trade retaliation without effective defenses and thrust America back to the brink of economic catastrophe,” Mr. Sauer added.

Lawyers for small businesses challenging the tariffs are not opposing the government's request for a Supreme Court hearing. One of the attorneys, Jeffrey Schwab of Liberty Justice Center, said in a statement they were confident they would prevail.

“These unlawful tariffs are inflicting serious harm on small businesses and jeopardizing their survival. We hope for a prompt resolution of this case for our clients,” Mr. Schwab said.