US States Challenge Trump’s New Import Tariffs in Court

A coalition of 25 US states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s new import tariffs, claiming they are unlawful and will harm American consumers and businesses.

The lawsuit, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, argues that the tariffs imposed on over 60 countries, including the European Union, were not conducted in accordance with the law and will lead to increased costs for consumers and businesses.

The states claim that the investigation conducted by the Trump administration under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 was not thorough and was completed in just over two months, which is not in line with standard country-specific procedures.

This, they argue, is a violation of the Trade Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. The lawsuit also notes that previous trade decisions by the Trump administration have been blocked by the courts.

The states argue that the new tariffs will lead to increased prices for imported goods, which will have a direct impact on consumers and businesses, and will increase the cost of living.

The lawsuit was filed by attorneys general from California, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.

Last month, the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the imposition of additional tariffs of 10-12.5% on imports from nearly 60 economies, citing the need to control imports of goods produced using forced labor.

Under the new rules, some countries, including India, will face a 10% tariff, while most other countries will face tariffs of up to 12.5%.