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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

25 US states sue Trump administration over new tariffs

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • Twenty-five U.S. states sued the Trump administration over new tariffs, alleging they are an illegal attempt to raise taxes.
  • The states claim the tariffs, imposed on 59 countries and the EU, are a pretext to replace import taxes struck down by the Supreme Court.
  • The White House defended the tariffs, stating they are a legal measure to address unreasonable trade practices and forced labor.

Twenty-five U.S. states have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration, challenging the legality of recent tariffs. The states argue that these tariffs, which impose double-digit rates on 59 countries and the European Union, are an unlawful attempt to increase taxes on American families and businesses. They contend that the administration is using these tariffs as a replacement for import taxes previously invalidated by the Supreme Court.

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

— Letitia JamesNew York Attorney General Letitia James explaining the states' lawsuit.

New York Attorney General Letitia James stated that the administration is "once again trying to illegally raise taxes" after losing in the Supreme Court. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield echoed this sentiment, saying Trump is "trying yet again to inflict more on working families and homegrown businesses." The coalition of states, including both Democratic and Republican-led states, asserted in their court filing that there is "no rational fit" between the stated problem of forced labor in international supply chains and the broad global tariffs.

Despite losing every step of the way, Trump is trying yet again to inflict more on working families and homegrown businesses.

— Dan RayfieldOregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield on the lawsuit against Trump tariffs.

However, the White House maintains that the tariffs are legal. White House spokesman Kush Desai argued that the administration is using its "lawful authority to obtain the elimination of unreasonable acts, policies, and practices that burden U.S. commerce." He added that a foreign country's failure to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor is unreasonable and harms U.S. commerce and workers, necessitating action.

There is no rational fit between the purported problem of forced labor in international supply chains and the blanket global tariffs.

— Coalition of statesThe states' argument in their court filing.

The tariffs, implemented under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, range from 10 to 12.5 percent and affect countries responsible for 99 percent of American imports. The lawsuit labels the action as "arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law."

The United States is using its lawful authority to obtain the elimination of unreasonable acts, policies, and practices that burden U.S. commerce.

— Kush DesaiWhite House spokesman Kush Desai defending the tariffs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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