WASHINGTON — President Trump has asked the Supreme Court for a fast-tracking ruling that he has broad power acting on his own to impose tariffs on products coming from countries around the world.
Despite losing in the lower courts, Trump and his lawyers have reason to believe they can win in the Supreme Court. The six conservative justices believe in strong presidential power, particularly in the area of foreign policy and national security.
In a three-page appeal filed Wednesday evening, they proposed the court decide by Wednesday to grant review and to hear arguments in early November.
They said the lower court setbacks, unless quickly reversed, “gravely undermine the President’s ability to conduct real-world diplomacy and his ability to protect the national security and economy of the United States.”
They cited Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s warning about the potential for economic disruption if the court does not act soon.
“Delaying a ruling until June 26 could result in a scenario in which $750 billion-$1 trillion have already been collected and unwinding them could cause significant disruption.” he wrote.
Trump and his tariffs ran into three strong arguments in the lower courts.
First, the Constitution says Congress, not the president, has the power “to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises” and a tariff is an import tax.
Second, the 1977 emergency powers law that Trump relies on does not mention tariffs, taxes or duties, and no previous president has used it to impose tariffs.
And third, the Supreme Court has frowned on recent presidents who relied on old laws to justify bold new costly regulations.
So far, however, the so-called “major questions” doctrine has been used to restrict Democratic presidents, not Republicans.
Three years ago, the court’s conservative majority struck down a major climate change regulation proposed by Presidents Obama and Biden that could have transformed the electric power industry on the grounds it was not clearly based on the Clean Air Acts of the 1970s.
Two years ago, the court by the same 6-3 vote struck down Biden’s plan to forgive hundreds of millions of dollars in student loans. Congress had said the Education Department may “waive or modify” monthly loan payments during a national emergency like the Covid 19 pandemic, but it did not say the loans may be forgiven, the court said. Its opinion noted the “staggering” cost could be more than $500 billion.
The impact of Trump’s tariffs figure to be at least five times greater, a federal appeals court said last week in ruling them illegal.
By a 7-4 vote, the federal circuit court cited all three arguments in ruling Trump had exceeded his legal authority.
“We conclude Congress, in enacting the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, did not give the president wide-ranging authority to impose tariffs,” they said.
But the outcome was not a total loss for Trump. The appellate judges put their decision on hold until the Supreme Court rules. That means Trump’s tariffs are likely to remain in effect for many months.
Trump’s lawyers were heartened by the dissent written by Judge Richard Taranto and joined by other others.
He argued that presidents are understood to have extra power when confronted with foreign threats to the nation’s security.
He called the 1977 law “an eyes-open congressional grant of broad emergency authority in this foreign-affairs realm” that said the president may “regulate” the “importation” of dangerous products including drugs coming into this country.
Citing other laws from that era, he said Congress understood that tariffs and duties are a “common tool of import regulation.”
WASHINGTON — A federal judge agreed on Friday to temporarily block the Trump administration’s efforts to expand fast-track deportations of immigrants who legally entered the U.S. under a process known as humanitarian parole — a ruling that could benefit hundreds of thousands of people.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., ruled that the Department of Homeland Security exceeded its statutory authority in its effort to expand “expedited removal” for many immigrants. The judge said those immigrants are facing perils that outweigh any harm from “pressing pause” on the administration’s plans.
The case “presents a question of fair play” for people fleeing oppression and violence in their home countries, Cobb said in her 84-page order.
“In a world of bad options, they played by the rules,” she wrote. “Now, the Government has not only closed off those pathways for new arrivals but changed the game for parolees already here, restricting their ability to seek immigration relief and subjecting them to summary removal despite statutory law prohibiting the Executive Branch from doing so.”
Fast-track deportations allow immigration officers to remove somebody from the U.S. without seeing a judge first. In immigration cases, parole allows somebody applying for admission to the U.S. to enter the country without being held in detention.
Immigrants’ advocacy groups sued Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to challenge three recent DHS agency actions that expanded expedited removal. A surge of arrests at immigration courts highlights the lawsuit’s high stakes.
The judge’s ruling applies to any non-citizen who has entered the U.S. through the parole process at a port of entry. She suspended the challenged DHS actions until the case’s conclusion.
Cobb said the case’s “underlying question” is whether people who escaped oppression will have the chance to “plead their case within a system of rules.”
“Or, alternatively, will they be summarily removed from a country that — as they are swept up at checkpoints and outside courtrooms, often by plainclothes officers without explanation or charges — may look to them more and more like the countries from which they tried to escape?” she added.
A plaintiffs’ attorney, Justice Action Center legal director Esther Sung, described the ruling as a “huge win” for hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their families. Sung said many people are afraid to attend routine immigration hearings out of fear of getting arrested.
“Hopefully this decision will alleviate that fear,” Sung said.
Since May, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have positioned themselves in hallways to arrest people after judges accept government requests to dismiss deportation cases. After being arrested, the government renews deportation proceedings but under fast-track authority.
President Trump sharply expanded fast-track authority in January, allowing immigration officers to deport someone without first seeing a judge. Although fast-track deportations can be put on hold by filing an asylum claim, people may be unaware of that right and, even if they are, can be swiftly removed if they fail an initial screening.
“Expedited removal” was created under a 1996 law and has been used widely for people stopped at the border since 2004. Trump attempted to expand those powers nationwide to anyone in the country less than two years in 2019 but was held up in court. His latest efforts amount to a second try.
ICE exercised its expanded authority sparingly at first during Trump’s second term but has since relied on it for aggressive enforcement in immigration courts and in “workplace raids,” according to plaintiffs’ attorneys.
Kunzelman and Spagat write for the Associated Press. Spagat reported from San Diego.
A rare earth mine is in Ganxian county in central China’s Jiangxi province. Photo by EPA-ESE
June 7 (UPI) — China has agreed to fast-track approvals for the shipment of rare earth minerals to the United States and some European Union nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke Thursday about easing trade tensions.
On Saturday, China’s Minister Seceary Wang Wentao said his nation is “willing to establish a green channel for qualified applications to speed up approval.” Details weren’t given, including the speed of the process and which EU nations are included.
China controls 90% of the global processing of rare earth minerals. Major deposits also are found in the United States, Australia and Russia. Smaller amounts are in Canada, India, South Africa and Southeast Asia.
Rare earth minerals are in the Earth’s crust, making them difficult to extract. They include lanthanide, scandium and yttrium, all on the Periodic Table of Elements. Some major minerals that contain rare earth elements are bastnasite, monazite, loparite and laterite clays.
The first rare-earth mineral was discovered in 1787 — gadolinite, a black mineral composed of cerium, yttrium, iron, silicon and other elements.
U.S. needs rare earth minerals
The minerals are critical to American industries and defense, including use in cars and fighter jets. Batteries contain the minerals
Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday “there should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of rare Earth products.”
On April 29, the United States and Ukraine created a Reconstruction Investment Fund that includes rare earth mineral rights in the European nation. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were originally set to sign the minerals deal on Feb. 28, but the plan was scrapped after a tense exchange between them in the Oval Office in which Trump accused him of “gambling with World War III.”
The United States wants access to more than 20 raw materials in Ukraine, including some non-minerals, such as oil and natural gas, as well as titanium, lithium, graphite and manganese.
The Chinese commerce ministry confirmed some applications have been approved without specifying industries covered.
Some Chinese suppliers have recently received six-month export licenses, the American Chamber of Commerce in China said Friday, but it noted that there is a backlog of license applications.
In a survey of member companies conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China late week, 75% say their stock would run out within three months, CNN reported.
Jens Eskelund, the chamber president, said member companies were “still struggling” with the situation.
“I hadn’t realized just how important this rare earth card was before. Now the U.S. side is clearly anxious and eager to resolve this issue,” he said a video on Thursday. “But of course, we’ll link this issue to others — the U.S. is restricting China on chips and jet engines, then China certainly has every reason to make use of this card.
“As for whether China will change its rare earth export control policy, that probably still needs to be negotiated in more detail,” Jin added.
Trump said Xi and himself “straightened out” some points related to rare earth magnets, calling it “very complex stuff.”
The U.S. federal government said China had reneged on its promise made in Geneva on May 12.
Delegations from Beijing and Washington plan to meet in Great Britain on Monday for trade negotiations.
At the height of tariff war, China had imposed export restrictions on some minerals on April 4. Trump two days planned a 120% “reciprocal” tax on top of 25% levy on Chinese goods.
But one week later it paused the bigger tariffs, including on other countries for 90 days.
European nations’ needs
China’s commerce ministry pledged to address the EU’s concerns and establish a “green channel” for eligible applications to expedite approvals. He went to Brussels, Belgium, earlier this week and met with European Union’s trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic.
It’s a problem for China and the EU.
Sefcovic said the pause was slowing deliveries for manufacturers of a wide range of items from cars to washing machines.
Wang urged the EU to “take effective measures to facilitate, safeguard and promote compliant trade of high-tech products to China.”
On Friday, the European Chamber, a Beijing lobby group, warned progress had “not been sufficient” to prevent severe supply chain disruptions for many companies.
The excitement of setting off on holiday can’t be beaten. But it’s not without its stresses – long lines at security, airport parking and currency confusion can all create a hectic start to a trip. However, a few key tricks can make all the difference to your travels, and allow you to kick off your trip in style. Here’s how you can upgrade your own holiday.
Maximise your cash by earning points
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that going on holiday is going to cost you money. But whether you’re planning a budget city break or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, it always pays to think about how you can make your everyday spending work for you. One of the best ways to do this is by getting a credit card that allows you to accumulate points as you spend.
For example, the Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card* gives you 25,000 Avios – the currency of the British Airways Club – if you spend £3,000 in your first three months, and 1.5 Avios for each pound you spend on eligible purchases (all for a £20 monthly fee). How you spend your Avios is up to you. You could use them on flights to your next dream holiday or on extras such as cabin upgrades, hotels, car hire, experiences, and more. Alternatively, if you are a Barclays Premier Banking1 customer, Barclays Avios Rewards2 can help you collect at least 1,500 Avios every month, and offers perks such as an Airport Lounge Membership with Assurant and DragonPass. You could also receive a 25,000 Avios joining bonus3 if you’re opening your first account and complete a full switch using the Current Account Switch Service within three months. And if you regularly fly with British Airways or partner airlines, keep an eye on your current Avios balance – it might already be higher than you think!
*Representative example. 80.1% APR representative (variable); purchase rate 29.9% p.a. (variable); based on a £1,200 credit limit; monthly fee, £20. The approval of your application depends on financial circumstances and borrowing history, so do the terms you may be offered. The interest rates may differ from those shown. T&Cs apply.
Optimise your airport experience
There’s no denying that airports can be stressful at peak times, but with a bit of planning, you can make the whole experience a lot more enjoyable. Alleviate pre-departure panic by booking your airport parking as far in advance as possible, and weigh up the benefits versus the cost – for example, if you’re taking off very early in the morning, paying for a parking space closer to the terminal might be well worth the extra money. Or, sometimes it’s worth taking public transport the night before and staying at one of the airport hotels. Not only can it end up working out cheaper, but starting your trip round the corner (and with a fry-up in your belly) drastically reduces any travel stress.
Make your airport experience less stressful by booking parking or a fast-track security pass ahead of time. Photograph: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
The airport chaos of 2022 taught us the value of arriving early to get through security, but one surefire way to eliminate any stress is to buy a fast-track pass and glide right past those lines. The majority of airports sell these in advance on their websites, with discounts the earlier you book.
If you really want to kick off a trip in style, the airport lounge is the way to go. While some airline lounges are only for their customers, most airports have general lounges that you can book. They are, however, more expensive when bought on arrival, so purchase a pass in advance for the best rate. Lounge access also comes as a perk with some credit cards and bank accounts – for a monthly fee, Barclays Travel Plus Pack4 (£22.50 a month) includes six annual visits to more than 1,000 airport lounges with the DragonPass Premier+ app5, as well as discounts on fast-track security and airport parking.
*Representative example. 80.1% APR representative (variable); purchase rate 29.9% p.a. (variable); based on a £1,200 credit limit; monthly fee, £20. The approval of your application depends on your financial circumstances and borrowing history, so do the terms you may be offered. The interest rates may differ from those shown. T&Cs apply.
Understanding your currency
Even though contactless payments and card machines are now found all over the world, sorting out currency ahead of a trip can still cause confusion. In some countries, such as Japan, for example, cash is still king, so you’ll need to order your currency in advance. But in places where card payments are accepted, it’s usually easier to stick to them (plus, you’ll avoid the inconvenience of coming home with currency that’s too pricey to bother exchanging back into the pound).
It’s usually simpler to stick to card payments where available. Photograph: ArtistGNDphotography/Getty Images
There’s often confusion about exchange rates and fees when using cards internationally, but using something such as the Barclays travel wallet6 keeps things nice and easy. You simply create a travel wallet within your own account and buy Euros or US dollars, ready to spend on your existing debit card7.
Balance planning with spontaneity
For some people, the process of planning a trip is almost as exciting as being on holiday – looking up the best local restaurants, finding the coolest coffee shops and planning which beaches to hit. If that sounds like you, scope out some of the reliable local influencers, search the location-tagged photos on Instagram and read up on some of your favourite travel publications. If you’d like a helping hand, the Barclays Travel Plus Pack also includes a 24/7 concierge service, for help with booking flights, hotels and events, with exclusive discounts too.
However much you plan in advance, be sure to allow a little room for spontaneity. Sometimes the best find is the one that comes from a chat in the local coffee shop, where someone tells you about a cool craft beer spot. Or the market only the locals know about that you stumble upon on a walk.
Set your (realistic) budget
It’s hardly the most exciting part of organising a holiday, but working out your budget is important nonetheless. Be realistic about how you want to spend your time and how much it will cost – for example, if you love spending the day on a sun lounger with a cocktail in hand, an all-inclusive trip may work out the best in terms of value. Once you’ve worked out how much you want to put aside, you can make use of savings tools offered by your bank – Barclays has a savings goal8 on its app9, so you can keep on track.
One thing you don’t want to skimp on is travel insurance, even on a trip within the UK. Get good insurance and you’ll be covered for everything from missing bags to flight cancellations and delays, which is a big reassurance when you’re spending thousands of pounds on a holiday. The Barclays Travel Plus Pack was named a Which? Best buy in June 2024, so you can enjoy your holiday without worrying, knowing that you’re in safe hands. It also includes complete breakdown cover in the UK and Europe, so you can take a road trip safe in the knowledge that you’re covered if you break down.
1 Join Premier Banking by opening a Premier Current Account. You also need a gross annual income of at least £75,000 paid into the account, or a total balance of at least £100,000 in savings with Barclays, in eligible investments, or a mix of both.
2 You can opt in to Barclays Avios Rewards if you’re a Premier Banking customer or have a personal wealth current account with Barclays – you’ll need to register for the Barclays app and have a British Airways Club account too. There’s a £12 monthly fee and you have to opt out of Barclays Blue Rewards and go paperless for all your accounts and services with Barclays. To access Barclays Avios Rewards in the Barclays app, you need to be over 18. You can join Premier Banking if you have an income of £75,000 or £100,000 to save or invest with Barclays. T&Cs apply.
3 To qualify for the 25,000 Avios joining bonus, you’ll need to join Barclays Avios Rewards – within four months of opening your first Barclays current account. Then, you’ll need to complete a full switch of your old current account to Barclays, using the Current Account Switch Service – within three months of joining Barclays Avios Rewards. You will then receive your joining bonus in the fourth month of Barclays Avios Rewards membership.
4 Terms, conditions, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. You must have a Barclays current account, be 18 or over and hold this product for at least six months from the date of purchase – then you can cancel at any time.
5 Terms and conditions apply for the DragonPass Premier+ app and fast-track security.
6 T&Cs apply. You need to be 16 years or over to access this product or service using the app.
7 No transaction fees apply when paying with Euros and US dollars from your travel wallet. There is a 2.75% margin applied when purchasing your currency. If you pay in British pounds on your debit card while abroad, a transaction fee will still apply.
8 You must have a Barclays or Barclaycard account, have a mobile number and be aged 16 or over to use the Barclays app. T&Cs apply.
9 You must be 11 or over to use the app. T&Cs apply.
