Democratic States Sue Trump Over New Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners

Democratic-led U.S. states have filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's recent tariffs on goods from 60 international trading partners, including products from the European Union. The 25 states allege in their complaint, filed Monday, that the administration is using the pretext of fighting forced labor to arbitrarily impose sweeping tariffs.

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the new tariffs are driving up costs for working families in the state and in America. Everyday items such as clothing and electronics will also become more expensive due to the import duties.

The White House has rejected these accusations. If the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York invalidates the import duties, it would represent another significant setback for Trump's aggressive tariff policy, a cornerstone of his second term. The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, went into effect on July 24.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield stated on X that the new tariffs would drive up costs for working families in his state and across America, making everyday items like clothing and electronics more expensive. The lawsuit contends that the underlying forced labor investigations are merely a "pretext" and an "unlawful attempt to exercise unfettered tariff authority."

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The United States is using its lawful authority to bring about the elimination of improper acts, practices, and policies that burden U.S. trade.

A White House spokesperson countered that the U.S. is using its lawful authority to eliminate practices harming American trade, calling the legal basis for the tariffs a "legal tool." The administration views these tariffs as a timely measure to counteract the expiration of global tariffs for which Trump would otherwise lack legal grounds, following a Supreme Court decision in February that invalidated many of his earlier tariffs.

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a legal tool