A coalition of 25 states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging President Donald Trump‘s latest round of tariffs and arguing that the new trade measures exceed his legal authority.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. Court of International Trade, seeks to block tariffs imposed on imports from approximately 60 countries and the European Union. The states contend that the administration is attempting to revive sweeping tariffs that the U.S. Supreme Court previously ruled were unlawful.
According to the complaint, the Trump administration is now relying on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to justify the new tariffs after the Supreme Court earlier ruled that the president could not use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad global tariffs.
The coalition argues that the new tariffs are essentially a replacement for the previous ones struck down by the courts and claims the administration has not met the legal requirements necessary to invoke Section 301.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the tariffs are expected to increase costs for consumers and businesses while creating uncertainty for the U.S. economy. New York Attorney General Letitia James also criticized the policy, saying the administration is attempting to sidestep the Supreme Court’s decision by using a different legal justification.
The lawsuit was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The Trump administration has defended the tariffs, maintaining that they are lawful and necessary to address concerns involving forced labor in global supply chains and unfair trade practices.
The legal challenge comes as businesses and importers continue to face uncertainty over U.S. trade policy. Several private companies have also filed separate lawsuits challenging the latest tariffs.
If the states succeed, the case could once again reshape the president’s authority over trade policy and determine whether the administration can continue imposing broad tariffs without congressional approval.
As the case moves through the courts, the outcome could have significant implications for consumers, businesses, international trade, and the broader U.S. economy.
