25 States Sue Trump Administration Over New Tariffs, Claiming Illegal Evasion of Supreme Court Ruling

Twenty-five U.S. states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging new tariffs imposed on imports from 59 countries and the European Union. The states accuse the administration of using these tariffs as a pretext to replace import taxes that a Supreme Court ruling had invalidated in February.

The tariffs, which carry double-digit percentages, were enacted last month with the stated reason of combating imports produced through forced labor. This move came just as temporary tariffs, previously implemented by President Trump after a legal defeat, were set to expire. "After losing before the Supreme Court, the government is once again trying to illegally increase taxes on families and businesses with a new round of tariffs," stated New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The lawsuit, announced Monday, includes states such as California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, among others. President Trump has maintained that high tariffs are necessary to revive American manufacturing, reversing decades of policy that favored lower tariffs and freer trade.

Previously, the administration invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to impose tariffs, arguing that the U.S. trade deficit constituted a national emergency. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the IEEPA did not authorize such tariff impositions, forcing the government to refund importers. To recoup lost revenue, Trump then turned to temporary global tariffs, which expired on July 24.

Now, the administration is implementing more durable tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This section allows the president to impose import taxes and other sanctions against countries found to engage in unfair trade practices. Trump previously used Section 301 to impose significant tariffs on China, which withstood legal challenges. The current tariffs, ranging from 10% (on Mexico) to 12.5%, are applied to countries responsible for 99% of U.S. imports and are justified by the administration under the guise of combating forced labor.

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After losing before the Supreme Court, the government is once again trying to illegally increase taxes on families and businesses with a new round of tariffs.