In a monumental decision, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a resounding blow to opponents of Trump-era national security tariffs on steel and aluminum. On Monday, the high court refused to hear a challenge, marking the final chapter in the legal saga of a Texas importer seeking to undo a 25% levy on imported steel derivative products.
Justices Refuse Steel Duty Challenge : PrimeSource’s Hopes Dashed
The Supreme Court’s refusal to entertain the petition from PrimeSource Building Products Inc. effectively ends a prolonged legal battle over whether former President Donald Trump had the authority to expand national security tariffs beyond raw steel to encompass downstream products such as nails and staples.
Challenging the President’s Powers
PrimeSource’s petition contested a Federal Circuit ruling from February, arguing that President Trump did not adhere to the prescribed process when extending the levies from raw steel to items like screws. In 2018, Trump had invoked Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to impose 25% and 10% duties on raw steel and aluminum, respectively.
