Coalition of US states sue to stop Trump’s new tariffs

A group of 25 US states sued the Trump administration on Monday over tariffs imposed on 60 trading partners.

In late July, the US announced tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners, accusing them of failing to impose and effectively enforce bans on imports of goods produced with forced labour.

The largely Democratic-led states asked the US Court of International Trade to halt the tariffs, declare them unlawful and order refunds of duties already paid.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said US President Donald Trump did not have the power to impose sweeping tariffs.

“After losing at the Supreme Court, the federal administration is again trying to raise taxes on families and businesses with another round of illegal tariffs,” she wrote on X.

“New York Governor Kathy Hochul and I are suing. Again,” she added.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield wrote that the tariffs would drive up costs for necessities like clothing and electronics.

“Once again, the president is raising costs on everyday goods for Oregon families and small businesses, and once again, we’re leading a multistate coalition stepping up to stop him.”

Since the start of his second term in January 2025, Trump had introduced import duties on goods from dozens of trading partners without congressional approval. In February, the Supreme Court barred Trump from imposing tariffs by executive order.

However, Trump’s administration has used a provision under a 1974 trade law that allows tariffs to address “unfair foreign practices” affecting US commerce.

(DPA)