A group of 25 Democratic-led states has sued the Trump administration over its latest round of tariffs, arguing that the president went beyond his legal authority. The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, apply to goods from 60 trading partners and cover nearly all U.S. imports. The states are asking the court to block the tariffs and refund duties already collected.
The lawsuit argues that the administration is using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to recreate tariffs that courts had previously rejected under other laws. The states say the government rushed investigations into the 60 economies and imposed nearly identical rates without showing how they were connected to forced labor or why each country deserved the same treatment.
The White House defended the tariffs as lawful, saying they are needed to address foreign practices that hurt American workers and businesses. The case adds to growing legal challenges against Trump’s trade policies, including a separate lawsuit from small businesses making similar arguments about the administration’s authority to impose the new duties.
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