A group of 25 US states has mounted a legal challenge against the Trump administration over the implementation of new import duties on 60 trading nations.
The litigation, filed on Monday in the US Court of International Trade, seeks to invalidate the tariffs, which range from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent, and secure a return of all collected duties.
The plaintiffs argue that the administration is using these new levies as a cover to bypass a February Supreme Court ruling that struck down previous import taxes.
These latest measures, affecting 59 countries and the European Union, reportedly encompass 99.4 per cent of all goods imported into the United States, reports Guardian.
Arguments over executive power
While the White House maintains that the tariffs are a response to inadequate efforts by trading partners to combat forced labour, state officials have dismissed this justification. New York Attorney General Letitia James characterised the move as an unlawful attempt to increase the tax burden on businesses and citizens.
“The law and our Constitution are clear that the president does not have the power to impose sweeping tariffs on whatever countries he wants,” James stated, asserting that executive authority has been exceeded.
The coalition includes New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, with the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania also joining the suit.
Legal basis and trade impact
The tariffs, which came into effect in July, were introduced after the “Liberation Day” duties were declared unconstitutional and subsequent temporary measures lapsed.
The administration is currently relying on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a statute designed to address foreign trade practices involving forced labour.
Major economies such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and China are all impacted by these measures.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the policy, stating that the US is exercising its legitimate authority to address “unreasonable acts” that hinder American trade. Desai further claimed that Section 301 remains a “legally durable tool” for the presidency.
Rising costs for consumers
Critics, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, contend that the “forced labour” investigation is a facade for a policy that indiscriminately raises prices for the public.
“President Trump’s illegal tariffs are nothing more than a tax on hardworking families,” Governor Hochul remarked, noting that the costs of groceries, building supplies, and basic household goods are being driven up by the measures.
This collective state action follows a separate lawsuit by the Liberty Justice Center, which was filed on behalf of two small businesses also challenging the president’s authority to enact these trade penalties.
