Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills (D) released a statement Friday praising the United States Supreme Court’s ruling against President Donald Trump (R) declaring the tariffs he issued last year unlawful.
The case spurring this decision originated after President Trump imposed tariffs on a wide variety of goods entering the country from many places around the world via a series of executive orders.
To do this, Trump called upon the authority granted to presidents under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to regulate economic transactions under a declared emergency.
Despite having been invoked by prior presidents, IEEPA had never before been used by the chief executive to impose tariffs. Instead, presidents have historically used their authority under IEEPA to impose sanctions on enemies or freeze assets.
According to the Supreme Court’s 6-3 majority, the IEEPA does not permit presidents to impose tariffs.
Authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the opinion explains that the Trump Administration’s view of the law “would represent a transformative expansion of the President’s authority over tariff policy.”
“The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch,” wrote Chief Justice Roberts.
Gov. Mills, who is currently vying for a seat in the United States Senate, shared a statement Friday criticizing Trump’s tariff policy.
“The president’s broad and arbitrary tariffs have always been unnecessary and harmful — and now the U.S. Supreme Court has rightfully declared them illegal,” she wrote.
“Through his tariffs, which are nothing more than tax increases by another name,” Mills continued, “the President has increased prices for Maine people and businesses, wreaked havoc on our economy, and badly harmed America’s standing as an economic partner in the eyes of nations across the globe.”
“While I applaud the Court for its ruling today and the relief it will bring to Maine people, I think the President needs to provide some sort of restitution to the retailers, distributors, and the Maine and American people for the financial pain he made them endure for nearly a year,” Mills said.
Click Here to Read Gov. Mills’ Full Statement
It was not addressed by the Court whether or not companies may get refunded for the tariffs they have already paid.
The Associated Press reports that more than $133 billion worth of tariffs have been collected by the Treasury Department, as shown by federal data.
