Yesterday, President Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on imported copper, part of a broader push to reshore U.S. industries and rebuild domestic supply chains. The announcement was made during a cabinet meeting this week, where Trump linked the policy to his “America First” agenda.

In response to the broader trend of tariff escalation, the Cato Institute recently filed an amicus brief in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump, arguing that it is legally untenable for a president to invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs.

You can read the brief here.

Our Cato Trade and Legal scholars are both available for comment on this topic. To speak with an expert, feel free to contact Emily Salamon at esalamon@​cato.​org