US states sue Trump administration over new tariffs on 60 trading partners

A coalition of 25 U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging new tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners. The states argue these tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, are an unlawful attempt to replace import taxes previously invalidated by the Supreme Court in February.

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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.

Filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, the lawsuit seeks to halt the tariffs and secure refunds for duties already paid. The states contend that the tariffs, which affect 99.4% of U.S. imports from 59 countries and the European Union, are being used as a pretext to impose new taxes on families and businesses.

New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, "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." She emphasized that the president lacks the constitutional power to impose such sweeping tariffs.

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No matter how the administration tries to justify it, the law and our Constitution are clear that the president does not have the power to impose sweeping tariffs on whatever countries he wants.

The Trump administration, through White House spokesman Kush Desai, defended the tariffs as a "legally durable tool" under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The administration asserts that these tariffs are a lawful measure to combat forced labor, which it argues burdens U.S. commerce and American workers.

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

However, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General James argue that the administration's reliance on "a supposed investigation into countries’ efforts to combat forced labor" does not satisfy the requirements of Section 301. They claim the "forced labor" justification is being used as an excuse for a policy of indiscriminately enacting damaging tariffs.

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A foreign country’s failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor is unreasonable and burdens US commerce, including American workers, and must be addressed.