Twelve U.S. States Sue Trump Administration Over Tariffs

A coalition of twelve U.S. states has initiated legal proceedings against the Trump administration, contesting the president's tariff policies. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, argues that President Trump lacks the authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval.

The states involved in the lawsuit include Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Arizona, all led by Democratic governors. Arizona's Attorney General, Kris Mayes, has criticized the tariff system, describing it as economically reckless and illegal. She emphasized that tariffs function as a tax passed down to consumers in Arizona.

Trump implemented the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The states' lawsuit claims that any tariffs introduced under this law require congressional consent, asserting that the president has disrupted the constitutional order and thrown the American economy into turmoil.

California had previously filed a similar lawsuit just a week prior, with Governor Gavin Newsom condemning Trump's tariff policies as self-destructive and labeling them the worst blunder in U.S. history. In early April, Trump announced a minimum tariff rate of ten percent for all trading partners and initially set much higher rates for around 60 countries, including a 20 percent tariff on the European Union. However, he later announced a 90-day pause on these increases while maintaining the minimum rate.

Currently, tariffs on imports from China remain as high as 145 percent. The president's actions in this ongoing trade conflict have led to significant fluctuations in the stock market.