25 US states sue Trump administration over new tariffs, citing overreach

A coalition of 25 states, led by Democrats, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of sweeping tariffs imposed on goods from 60 trading partners. The states argue that President Trump's decision to levy 10% or 12.5% tariffs on a wide range of imports, covering 99.4% of U.S. import value, constitutes an overreach of executive power and an illegal tax increase on consumers and businesses.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul reiterated that these tariffs, implemented after the Supreme Court rejected previous policies, will significantly inflate prices for essential items like groceries and building materials. The lawsuit centers on allegations that the administration is attempting to circumvent previous legal setbacks by reintroducing similar tariff policies under different legal justifications.

“

this is tantamount to illegally imposing taxes on the public and businesses after the Supreme Court rejected the old policy.

The states contend that the U.S. Trade Representative's office and Trade Representative Greel hastily concluded investigations into 60 economies within two and a half months. They claim the administration used "forced labor" and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as pretexts to establish a near-identical global tariff system, bypassing country-specific negotiations. The states point to inconsistencies, such as exempting Brazilian frozen beef while citing it as a forced labor case, and prior statements by Treasury Secretary Bentsen about "restoring previous levels," suggesting the outcomes were predetermined.

The White House, through spokesperson Desai, strongly refuted the claims, asserting that the U.S. is exercising its lawful authority to remove trade obstacles caused by other nations' failure to prohibit forced labor products. The administration maintains that Section 301 has been a legitimate and enduring tool since Trump's first term. This legal challenge marks the second major lawsuit against the Trump administration's new global tariffs, following an earlier suit by small businesses, as temporary tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act expire.

“

the United States is exercising its lawful authority to remove trade obstacles caused by other countries' failure to prohibit forced labor products.