ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump rallied his legal team Thursday as a federal appeals court is expected to hear arguments on his administration's emergency tariff powers, with higher global tariffs set to start on Friday.

"To all of my great lawyers who have fought so hard to save our Country, good luck in America's big case today," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump defended the controversial tariffs, writing: "If our Country was not able to protect itself by using TARIFFS AGAINST TARIFFS, WE WOULD BE 'DEAD,' WITH NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OR SUCCESS.”

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is examining whether Trump lawfully used emergency powers to impose broad, higher tariffs on most US trading partners.

A lower court blocked the move in May, finding Trump overstepped authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. However, the appeals court paused that decision, allowing tariffs to remain active during proceedings.

The case comes as Trump's global tariffs are planned to take effect on Friday.