WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court ruled Friday that many of President Donald Trump’s most punishing tariffs were illegal, delivering a major new setback that may severely undercut the administration’s primary power and source of leverage in an expanding global trade war.

The ruling, from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, affirmed a lower court’s initial finding that Trump did not possess unlimited authority to impose taxes on nearly all U.S. imports. But the appellate judges delayed the enforcement of their order until mid-October, allowing the administration time to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

While the tariffs remain in place, for now, the adverse ruling still cast doubt over the centerpiece of Trump’s trade strategy and the many sweeping and sometimes wit

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