Tue Sep 02 03:18:44 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary of the text:**
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remains confident the Supreme Court will uphold President Trump’s tariffs, imposed under a 1977 emergency powers law. This confidence comes after a divided appeals court ruled most of these tariffs illegal. Bessent is preparing a legal brief emphasizing the urgency of addressing trade imbalances and fentanyl imports. He suggests the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act as a backup plan. He defends the fentanyl crisis as a valid reason for emergency powers and warns of impending economic calamity due to growing trade deficits, comparing it to the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis. Dismissing concerns of a growing anti-U.S. alliance, Bessent criticizes India and Russia’s actions and notes progress in pressuring Europe to join the U.S. in penalizing India for Russian oil purchases. He also downplays China’s ability to find alternative markets for its goods.
**Here’s the rewritten news article:**
**U.S. Treasury Secretary Confident Supreme Court Will Uphold Trump’s Tariffs**
**ARLINGTON, Virginia – September 2, 2025 -** U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed strong confidence on Monday that the Supreme Court will uphold President Donald Trump’s use of a 1977 emergency powers law to impose sweeping tariffs on most of the country’s trading partners. This assertion comes despite a recent ruling by a divided U.S. appeals court that deemed the majority of these tariffs illegal.
Speaking to Reuters, Bessent stated that he is preparing a legal brief for the U.S. Solicitor General, emphasizing the urgency of addressing longstanding trade imbalances and stemming the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States. He also suggested the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 as a potential alternative if the Supreme Court rules against the administration.
“I’m confident the Supreme Court will uphold it,” Bessent said, “and there are lots of other authorities that can be used.”
Bessent defended the use of emergency powers, citing the fentanyl crisis and its devastating impact on the United States as a legitimate national emergency. He further warned of an impending economic calamity due to escalating trade deficits, drawing parallels to the conditions that preceded the 2008 financial crisis.
Downplaying concerns of a growing alliance between nations opposed to U.S. trade policies, Bessent dismissed a recent gathering in Shanghai as routine. He also criticized India and Russia’s actions, accusing them of fueling “the Russian war machine.”
Bessent further noted progress in persuading European nations to join Washington’s effort to penalize India for its continued purchases of Russian oil through a 25% additional tariff. He refrained from commenting on potential similar actions against China but expressed doubt in China’s ability to find sufficient alternative markets outside of the United States, Europe, and other English-speaking countries.
The U.S. Treasury is expected to submit its legal brief to the Supreme Court on Tuesday or Wednesday. The Supreme Court’s decision will have significant implications for global trade and the future of U.S. economic policy.
First Piper 