Lawsuit May Stymie Trump’s Trade War

A federal court ruled May 28 that President Donald J. Trump had overstepped his authority when he imposed sweeping tariffs of 10% on nearly every nation in the world, potentially raising the price of every imported bottle of wine in American stores and restaurants.

- BY MITCH FRANK

New York-based wine importer VOS Selections is the lead plaintiff. “This is a win for my small business along with small businesses across America,” said founder Victor Schwartz in a statement. “We are aware of the appeal already filed, and we firmly believe in our lawsuit and will see it all the way through.”

The fight is far from over. Just 24 hours after the decision, a federal appeals court granted the Trump administration’s request to pause the lower court’s ruling, keeping the levies in place while the White House appeals the decision. The case could head to the Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade, a federal court in Manhattan, halted Trump’s global tariffs that he imposed by citing emergency economic powers. These include the “Liberation Day” tariffs he announced April 2 and ones placed earlier this year against China, Mexico and Canada designed to combat fentanyl coming into the United States.