12 US States File Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over 'Illegal Tariffs'
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Synopsis
A coalition of 12 US states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for imposing illegal tariffs. The attorneys general from various states argue that these tariffs violate the law and threaten the economy. The lawsuit seeks to block the enforcement of these tariffs and highlights the lack of legal authority for their implementation.
Key Takeaways
- A coalition of 12 states is suing the Trump administration.
- The lawsuit claims tariffs are illegal and harmful.
- Attorneys general argue tariffs violate legal authority.
- The lawsuit aims to block enforcement of the tariffs.
- Economic ramifications include inflation and unemployment.
San Francisco, April 24 (NationPress) A coalition of 12 US states has initiated legal action against the Trump administration over illegal tariffs in the US Court of International Trade located in New York.
Attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Vermont filed this lawsuit on Wednesday, aiming to obtain a court order that would prevent the Trump administration from implementing the tariffs.
The lawsuit contends that this policy has made the national trade framework susceptible to Trump's whims rather than relying on the legitimate exercise of lawful authority. It requests the court to declare the tariffs unlawful and to prevent government agencies and officials from enforcing them, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
It emphasized that the US President can only activate the Emergency Act in response to an unusual and extraordinary threat from outside the country.
“By asserting the power to impose significant and ever-changing tariffs on any goods entering the US for arbitrary reasons, the President has disrupted the constitutional order and created chaos in the American economy,” the legal filing stated.
“Congress has not conferred upon the President the authority to impose these tariffs; thus, the administration has breached the law by enforcing them through executive orders, social media statements, and agency directives,” stated a representative from New York Attorney General Letitia James' office.
“These tariffs are unlawful, and if not curtailed, they will lead to heightened inflation, increased unemployment, and economic harm,” warned James.
“President Trump's reckless tariffs have caused prices to soar for consumers and unleashed economic turmoil nationwide,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a statement on Wednesday.
In response to the lawsuit, White House spokesperson Kush Desai remarked that the administration “remains dedicated to tackling this national emergency that is devastating American industries and leaving our workers behind, utilizing every tool at our disposal—from tariffs to negotiations.”
On April 2, Trump enacted an executive order at the White House, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to declare a national emergency and introduce what are referred to as “reciprocal tariffs” on all US trading partners.
This action incited strong opposition both domestically and internationally, resulting in considerable volatility within the financial markets.
