The court will hear arguments Thursday but is not expected to issue a decision from the bench, so any decision over the tariffs’ legality is most likely to come after Friday, when the Trump administration’s pause on the worst of its “Liberation Day” tariffs is set to expire.

An appeals court in Washington will consider President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff plan, which comes into force Aug. 1, and has sparked consternation from small businesses.

The 11-judge panel noted that the 1977 law the president relied on — the International Emergency Economic Powers Act — did not specifically grant the executive the power to impose tariffs.