(NBC29 Charlottesville)—A federal appeals court has paused a ruling made earlier on Thursday, which would have blocked President Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs.
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued an administrative stay of the ruling while it reviews the White House’s appeal.
The Liberty Justice Center originally launched a lawsuit against the tariffs in April on behalf of five small businesses, including one right here in Charlottesville: MicroKits, which sells electronic STEM kits out of its workspace on E. Market Street.
Founder and owner David Levi told 29News last month the tariffs posed a huge threat to his business, which relies heavily on imports, and that he may have to shut down altogether.
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled late Wednesday that the “Worldwide and Retaliatory Tariff Orders exceed any authority granted to the President.”
In a statement to 29News, Senior Counsel Jeffrey Schwab with the Liberty Justice Center said the following:
“We are confident the Federal Circuit will ultimately deny the government’s motion shortly thereafter, recognizing the irreparable harm these tariffs inflict on our clients. This harm includes the loss of critical suppliers and customers, forced and costly changes to established supply chains, and, most seriously, a direct threat to the very survival of these businesses.”
Author: Kate Nuechterlein