12 US States Sue Trump Administration Over Tariff Policy

Twelve US states have filed a lawsuit against the administration of former President Donald Trump, challenging the legality of recently imposed tariffs.

The suit, filed Wednesday with the US Court of International Trade in New York, seeks to halt the enforcement of Trump’s controversial trade policy.

In the complaint, the states argue that the tariffs are unlawful and have caused significant disruption to the American economy.

The filing criticizes the former president for allegedly using trade policy as a personal tool, rather than exercising lawful executive authority.

The lawsuit disputes Trump's claim that he can unilaterally impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law intended for extraordinary foreign threats.

The plaintiffs insist that only Congress has the constitutional power to impose tariffs, and that IEEPA may be invoked solely in response to unusual and exceptional external emergencies — not for routine trade disputes.

The legal action demands the court declare the tariffs illegal and block all federal agencies and departments from enforcing them.

Trump’s sweeping tariff policy, announced on April 2, 2025, affects imports from 185 countries and territories.

A flat tariff rate of 10% went into effect on April 5, with additional product-specific tariffs beginning on April 9.

Among the most controversial measures is the tariff hike on Chinese goods, which now face a total duty of 145%.

This includes the 125% tariff imposed in April, combined with an earlier 20% surcharge on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico. Trump justified the move as a response to what he described as those countries’ failure to prevent the smuggling of fentanyl into the US.

In retaliation, China raised tariffs on American goods to 125%, escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Experts warn that this spiraling trade war could have severe consequences for the global economy, triggering supply chain disruptions, inflation, and slower growth worldwide.