Toy Companies Ask Supreme Court to Halt Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs

Two American toy companies, Learning Resources and hand2mind, are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the legal battle over President Donald Trump’s tariffs, arguing the administration exceeded its authority by unilaterally launching a global trade war.

Trump has imposed, paused, and adjusted tariffs rapidly since retaking office in January, creating economic uncertainty for businesses and consumers. On April 2, dubbed “Liberation Day,” the president instituted a sweeping 10% tariff on most imported goods, along with targeted increases on Chinese imports.

The toy companies are asking the Supreme Court to bypass the appeals process and rule quickly on whether Trump’s use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to implement the tariffs is lawful. A lower court has already found that IEEPA does not grant blanket authority to raise trade barriers without limits.

“In light of the tariffs’ massive impact on virtually every business and consumer across the nation, and the unremitting whiplash caused by the unfettered tariffing power the president claims, challenges to the IEEPA tariffs cannot await the normal appellate process,” the companies wrote in their court filing.

In a separate but related case, a wine importer, other small businesses, and a coalition of a dozen states also sued the administration, arguing the same overreach. A federal judge in New York ruled against the president in May, a decision that briefly boosted global markets before being paused by a Washington, DC, appeals court pending a full review.

While the Supreme Court is currently in its busiest season, the toy companies have requested an expedited schedule, aiming for the case to be heard when the court reconvenes in the fall.

They warned in their filing that the president’s actions “increased the nation’s effective tariff rate tenfold to the highest it has been in more than a century,” and that IEEPA has never been used in such a broad manner.

The Department of Justice has not yet responded to the appeal.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.