CNN: Trump mulls national emergency declaration to impose universal tariffs

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the option of declaring a national economic emergency to justify imposing widespread tariffs on both allies and adversaries. 

This move would utilize the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), a law that grants the president broad authority to manage imports during times of national emergency, without needing to prove national security concerns, Caliber.Az reports per CNN.

Trump’s potential use of IEEPA would allow him to implement tariffs more freely than through other legal mechanisms, sources noted. The former president, who is seeking to reset global trade relations in his second term, has a history of using emergency powers to influence trade policy, most notably in 2019 when he threatened tariffs on Mexico in exchange for action on immigration. That threat was ultimately rescinded following negotiations.

Advisers to Trump are also exploring other legal avenues to implement tariffs, including Section 338 of US trade law, which allows the president to impose tariffs on countries that discriminate against US commerce. The team is also considering revisiting Section 301, which underpinned tariffs on China during Trump’s first term.

While Trump has not yet made a final decision, his transition team is reportedly evaluating the legal and economic implications of a national emergency declaration. In recent remarks, Trump expressed confidence in the strength of the US economy, despite concerns over inflation, claiming the nation is set for substantial growth in the coming years.

Proponents of the tariffs argue they are essential for rebuilding US manufacturing and enhancing national security. However, the legal and practical challenges of implementing such tariffs, particularly in the absence of a clear emergency, remain a key point of debate.

By Aghakazim Guliyev