A group of 25 U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Monday in the U.S. Court of International Trade, challenging President Trump's recent round of tariffs that cover more than 80 countries. The states contend the measures, imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, exceed the administration's statutory authority.
The tariffs, announced on July 23 and aimed at 60 trading partners including the European Union, were justified by the White House as a response to alleged forced‑labor practices. All of the suing states have Democratic attorneys general, and their complaint says the forced‑labor rationale is a pretext while the USTR acted arbitrarily and contrary to law. California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that the tariffs raise living costs for Americans and constitute an illegal tax burden.
The case adds to a series of setbacks for the administration, following a Supreme Court decision that rejected a prior set of tariffs under the IEEPA and a recent trade‑court ruling that found Section 122 tariffs unlawful. The White House maintains the new duties are lawful, and the lawsuit will now proceed, potentially influencing the temporary 10% import levy that was slated to expire on July 24.
