Multiple US states file lawsuit over new global tariffs imposed by Trump
A coalition of 24 US state attorneys general has launched a challenge against President Donald Trump's newly announced global tariff policy
NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – A coalition of 24 U.S. state attorneys general has launched a legal challenge against President Donald Trump’s newly announced global tariff policy, alleging the administration is circumventing a recent Supreme Court decision that invalidated earlier duties.
The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, asks the U.S. Court of International Trade to declare the new tariffs unlawful and order refunds for states and businesses that have already paid the penalties.
The legal action follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling last month that struck down most of Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs from the previous year.
The court found that the administration had improperly relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify the duties, delivering one of the most significant legal setbacks of Trump’s second term.
Following the ruling, the administration announced a new set of tariffs under a different legal authority, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, imposing a 10 percent global tariff rate on most imports with plans to raise it to 15 percent.
The coalition, many of whom participated in the earlier successful challenge, argues the administration is attempting to sidestep the Supreme Court decision by invoking a law never intended for sweeping tariff measures.
The lawsuit contends that Section 122 was designed to address temporary monetary imbalances under the former gold-standard system, not to manage broader trade deficits or implement permanent tariff regimes.
The states also argue the tariffs violate the constitutional separation of powers by infringing on Congress’s authority over trade policy, and fail to comply with the 1974 law’s requirements for uniform application of duties.
The challenge adds to mounting uncertainty surrounding the administration’s trade policies.
A federal court ruled Wednesday that companies which paid tariffs previously struck down by the Supreme Court could be entitled to billions of dollars in refunds, potentially exposing the government to significant financial liability.
The dispute represents the continuation of a lengthy legal battle between James and Trump, following her involvement in the previous lawsuit that reached the Supreme Court.
As litigation proceeds, businesses and trading partners face continued uncertainty about the durability and legality of American trade policy.
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