A coalition of 25 US states has taken the Donald Trump administration to court over a fresh round of tariffs imposed on imports from 60 trading partners. The lawsuit argues that the new duties are unlawful and asks the court to block them, declare them invalid and order refunds for the tariffs already collected.
The case has been filed in the US Court of International Trade. According to The Guardian, the tariffs range between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent and were introduced after an earlier set of import duties was struck down by the US Supreme Court in February.
States challenge legality of fresh tariffs
The states argue that the latest tariffs, announced last month on 59 countries and the European Union, now apply to 99.4 per cent of US imports. The Trump administration has defended the move by saying the affected countries have not done enough to stop imports made using forced labour.
New York Attorney General Letitia James criticised the administration's decision, saying, "After losing at the Supreme Court, the administration is once again trying to illegally raise taxes on families and businesses with a new round of tariffs."
She added, "No matter how the administration tries to justify it, the law and our Constitution are clear that the president does not have the power to impose sweeping tariffs on whatever countries he wants."
The states joining the lawsuit include New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington and Wisconsin, along with 19 other states and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
White House defends policy
The tariffs came into force in July under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. They affect several major US trading partners, including Canada, Japan, Norway, Taiwan and China.
The legal challenge follows a separate lawsuit filed by the Liberty Justice Center on behalf of two small US businesses, which claims Trump exceeded his executive authority.
Responding to the case, White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the administration's position. "The United States is using its lawful authority to obtain the elimination of unreasonable acts, policies, and practices that burden US commerce," he said.
Desai added, "A foreign country’s failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour is unreasonable and burdens US commerce, including American workers, and must be addressed. Section 301 tariffs have proven to be a legally durable tool since the President’s first term, and they remain so now."
New York Governor calls tariffs a burden on families
New York Governor Kathy Hochul accused the administration of using the issue of forced labour to justify broad import duties.
"President Trump’s illegal tariffs are nothing more than a tax on hardworking families, driving up the cost of groceries, household essentials, building materials, and countless everyday goods that New Yorkers rely on," Hochul said.
She added, "The Supreme Court has made it clear that this administration cannot ignore the law to impose sweeping tariffs."