On Wednesday, a coalition of twelve U.S. states filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, aiming to block former President Donald Trump’s tariff measures. The states argue that the policy is unlawful and has caused significant disruption to the national economy.
The complaint claims that Trump’s use of tariffs is guided more by personal impulses than by legitimate legal authority. It directly challenges his interpretation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, asserting that the law does not grant the president unchecked power to impose tariffs. The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the tariffs illegal and to prevent government officials from continuing their enforcement.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to requests for comment.
States involved in the lawsuit include Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes labeled the tariff strategy “insane,” criticizing it as not only economically harmful but also illegal. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong echoed this sentiment, saying Trump’s unpredictable tariffs were effectively a tax on families and a threat to local businesses and jobs.
The lawsuit argues that under the Constitution, only Congress has the authority to impose tariffs. It further states that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act can only be used when there is a genuine, extraordinary foreign threat. By declaring emergencies at will and applying tariffs at his discretion, the lawsuit claims, Trump disrupted constitutional checks and brought instability to the U.S. economy.
Separately, California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a similar lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Northern California last week. He warned that California, as the country’s largest importer, could suffer billions in lost revenue due to the tariffs.
In response, White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the policy, saying the administration remained focused on addressing what it considered a national emergency undermining American industries, using tools such as tariffs and negotiations.
