A federal appeals court on Tuesday put a temporary hold on a recent lower court ruling that had challenged the Trump administration's 10% global tariff enacted under Section 122 of the Trade Act. The administrative stay reinstates collection of the tariff for three importers that had been granted relief the prior week.
Last Friday, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled against the duties but did not issue a sweeping injunction preventing their broader collection. The administration appealed that decision, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit responded with a short-term pause on the lower court's relief while it considers whether a longer suspension is warranted.
Under the temporary stay, tariffs resumed for two private businesses and for the state of Washington. Washington qualified in the litigation as an importer because tariffs were paid through the University of Washington, which the filing describes as a public research institution. The parties that had obtained relief now face renewed duty assessments while the appeals court evaluates the next procedural steps.
The three affected plaintiffs have a set window to respond: each has seven days to file opposition to any effort to extend the appellate pause that would further suspend the lower court ruling that had been decided in their favor. The Federal Circuit's initial action is administrative and short-term, leaving open the possibility that the stay could be lengthened or allowed to lapse pending further review.
The 10% global tariff was put in place in February following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down most of the tariffs implemented in 2025. The current litigation centers on the legality and enforceability of the Section 122 duties and the scope of relief available to importers challenging them.
For the importers involved - including private firms and a state entity linked to a public research university - the appeals court's temporary stay means immediate resumption of tariff obligations while the appellate process plays out. The short-term nature of the Federal Circuit's order preserves judicial options on both sides: the administration maintains collection authority for now, and the importers retain the ability to press for a more lasting suspension through opposition filings and further appellate briefing.
Legal and market context
The Federal Circuit's administrative stay is procedural: it does not resolve the underlying merits of the dispute but pauses the lower court's relief while the appeals court considers whether to extend that pause. The practical outcome is a temporary reinstatement of duties for the three named importers, with further action contingent on filings and the appellate court's review.
Key actors in this phase include the U.S. Court of International Trade, which issued the earlier decision; the Trump administration, which filed the appeal; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which granted the short-term stay and will determine if a longer suspension is necessary.
This article presents the procedural developments in the litigation over the Section 122 10% tariff and the immediate effects of the Federal Circuit's administrative stay on the parties involved.