Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is celebrating a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down tariffs imposed by President Trump.
Beyer, who chairs the New Democrat Coalition Trade & Tariffs Task Force, has been sharply critical of the tariffs and has called for the high court to find them illegal.
More on this morning’s ruling, from the Associated Press:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda. Friday’s 6-3 decision centers on tariffs he unilaterally imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs levied on nearly every other country. The Republican president has called the case one of the most important in U.S. history and said a ruling against him would be an economic body blow to the country. But legal opposition crossed the political spectrum, including libertarian and pro-business groups typically aligned with the GOP. Administration officials have said they expect to keep the tariff framework in place under other authorities.
In a statement after the ruling, below, Beyer said the tariffs are essentially new taxes that have been “crushing American consumers and small businesses.”
“For nearly a year, President Trump has raised prices for the American people, depressed job growth and put our economic wellbeing at risk. He has repeatedly disregarded the Constitution to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs without credible reason or cause, crushing American consumers and small businesses under these new taxes to help pay for giveaways to his wealthy friends. Now, at last, the Supreme Court has ruled that he broke the law to do so.
“Even Trump’s Supreme Court allies, who have bent over backwards to give him unprecedented powers over and over again, had to admit that his tariffs are unconstitutional and illegal.
“While this is a win for the American people and American businesses who will no longer have to pay these taxes, much of the damage is done. Manufacturers closed their doors and let go of workers as their costs skyrocketed. Small businesses have shuttered, and those that survived will have a hard time claiming the money they are owed under this framework, while consumers who have paid more for everyday necessities will likely never receive a refund.
“These brutal losses could have been avoided if Congressional Republicans had the courage to stand up to Trump and end his trade war sooner. The American people will remember who fought for affordability and who called it a hoax.”
