### Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Asserts Trump's Tariff Power Amid Court Battle

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick conveyed confidence on Sunday that the ongoing legal challenges to President Donald Trump's tariff powers won't undermine the administration's leverage as it proceeds with trade negotiations before a July deadline.

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Lutnick stated, "All of the countries negotiating with us recognize Donald Trump's power and his commitment to protecting American workers." He noted that any delays caused by the court battle were minimal. "It may have cost us a week, but everyone quickly returned to the table and resumed discussions."

This development follows a ruling by a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade, which unanimously blocked Trump's extensive global tariffs. The panel found that the law utilized by the president to enforce these economic measures through national emergency declarations "does not authorize the President to impose unbounded tariffs." However, an appellate court temporarily stayed the ruling last Thursday.

Despite some international negotiators suggesting that these legal disputes might strengthen their negotiating positions, Lutnick was quick to refute this on Sunday. He assured that the White House would escalate the matter to higher courts, confidently stating, "The president's going to win like he always does."

"Tariffs aren't going away," Lutnick added. "Even if this particular authority were invalidated, the president has numerous other powers to impose tariffs. Congress has granted these powers to the president, and he intends to use them."

On another note, Lutnick also mentioned that he does not anticipate an extension of the 90-day pause on many of Trump's stringent "reciprocal tariffs," set to expire in early July. He emphasized the ongoing progress, saying, "We’re getting a lot of deals in place. We could sign many now, but we’re aiming to improve them further."

"The president has set a clear deadline," Lutnick concluded. "If no agreements are reached by then, President Trump will decide the terms and rates. He is prepared to determine the conditions if negotiations fail."