25 US States Sue Trump Administration Over New Global Tariffs

A coalition of 25 US states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the US Court of International Trade. The legal action challenges new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% imposed on goods from 60 trading partners, which account for 99.4% of total US imports. The plaintiff states argue that President Donald Trump exceeded his executive authority and used forced-labor concerns under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as a pretext to replace sweeping import taxes previously struck down by the US Supreme Court. The coalition is asking the court to halt the tariffs immediately, declare them unlawful, and order full refunds for duties already paid. The lawsuit was spearheaded by Democratic attorneys general and governors, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. States participating in the challenge include New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. White House officials defended the measure, with spokesman Kush Desai stating that the administration is utilizing lawful authority to combat unreasonable foreign practices that burden American commerce and workers. The administration maintains that Section 301 tariffs remain a legally durable tool for addressing nations that fail to effectively prohibit goods produced with forced labor.