A bipartisan group of 207 Congressional Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate, together with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States challenging the legality of the tariff-imposition method used by the Donald J. Trump administration.

The brief contends that the administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to enact sweeping tariffs is unlawful – and that those tariffs are harming the U.S. economy.

The legal action comes in the wake of President Trump’s announcement that he will raise all tariffs on Canada by 10 percent “over and above what they are paying now,” citing a television advertisement as justification for the move.

While the effective date and specific scope of the increased tariffs remain unclear, Canada currently faces up to 35 percent tariffs, although goods covered under the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (USMCA) remain exempt – this exemption applies to certain seafood products.

Implications for the seafood trade:

• Industry stakeholders should monitor whether these tariff changes will extend to seafood imports from Canada, especially since USMCA exemptions may be impacted.
• The legal challenge underscores growing uncertainty in trade policy – costs for U.S. buyers and processors could rise if tariff law is found to have been mis-applied.
• Companies relying on Canadian supply chains may need to assess alternative sourcing, hedge risk, or adjust pricing strategies.

Next steps to watch:

• The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to consider the brief and the underlying case.
• The administration’s clarification on when the increased Canadian tariffs take effect and how they apply by product category.
• Any ripple effects for other trading partners and whether similar legal challenges emerge.