President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. AP

WASHINGTON — A little-known federal court threw a giant monkey wrench into a foundational part of President Donald Trump's economic agenda by striking down most of the sweeping tariffs he has imposed since taking office.

The Court of International Trade, based in New York, on late Wednesday said that Trump had overstepped his authority by using a 1977 law, the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, to justify tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, and more than 50 other nations.

So what is the Court of International Trade? And how can it wield such power?

The CIT is a specialized federal court that typically considers disputes over customs duties and trade restrictions. It has evolved

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