A coalition of 12 U.S. states has taken legal action against former President Donald Trump’s administration, filing a lawsuit over what they call “illegal tariffs.”
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. They are seeking a court order to block the tariffs from being enacted.
This legal move follows a similar action by California just a week prior, marking increasing opposition at the state level against the tariff policies.
The lawsuit argues that the tariffs have left national trade policy subject to the president’s “whims rather than the sound exercise of lawful authority.” It calls for the court to declare the tariffs illegal and prevent enforcement by government agencies and officers.
According to the legal filing, the president can only invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when there is an “unusual and extraordinary threat” from abroad. The lawsuit states, “By claiming the authority to impose immense and ever-changing tariffs on whatever goods entering the United States he chooses… the President has upended the constitutional order and brought chaos to the American economy.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasized the impact of the tariffs, saying, “His tariffs are unlawful and if not stopped, they will lead to more inflation, unemployment, and economic damage.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul echoed these concerns, stating, “President Trump’s reckless tariffs have skyrocketed costs for consumers and unleashed economic chaos across the country.”
In response, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said that the administration “remains committed to addressing this national emergency that’s decimating America’s industries and leaving our workers behind with every tool at our disposal, from tariffs to negotiations.”
On April 2, Trump signed an executive order invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to declare a national emergency and impose “reciprocal tariffs” on all U.S. trading partners. This move sparked strong opposition both internationally and within the United States, leading to significant turmoil in financial markets.
