Trump to ask U.S. Supreme Court for fast-track ruling on tariffs

ISTANBUL: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will ask the Supreme Court for a fast-track ruling in order to reverse an appeals court decision that found most of his controversial worldwide tariffs illegal, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

"If you take away tariffs, we could end up being a third-world country," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"We're going to the Supreme Court, we think tomorrow, because we need an early decision," Trump said, claiming the "financial fabric of our country" is at stake.

"We're going to be asking for early admittance ... We're going to ask for an expedited ruling," he vowed.

Stating that they signed trade deals with Japan, the EU and South Korea, the president said those countries are paying the US $950 billion, and they are "happy" about that.

Critics, however, say the deals are more outlines than full-fledged agreements, adding that Trump has misrepresented how much the US would benefit under them.

On efforts to roll back the tariffs, enacted under unprecedented executive orders, Trump said: "They have no legal basis whatsoever (to challenge the tariffs), but on a common-sense basis, it would destroy America."

Additionally, Trump said that Friday's appeals decision was the reason why US stocks fell on Tuesday.

"The stock market's down because of that, because the stock market needs the tariffs," he said. "They want the tariffs."

Many analysts blamed the falling markets on uncertainty over tariffs.

On Friday, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said that Trump does not have the authority to implement most of his tariffs.

"The core Congressional power to impose taxes such as tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution," the court said. "Tariffs are a core Congressional power."

To give the Trump administration time to petition the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling, the appeals court postponed implementation of its decision until Oct 14.

-- BERNAMA