A coalition of twelve U.S. states has launched a federal lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s tariffs, marking the latest legal battle over the administration’s controversial trade policies.
Led by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade argues the president unconstitutionally bypassed Congress in imposing global trade tariffs that have disrupted international commerce.
The legal challenge centers on Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1970s law never before used to impose tariffs.
The lawsuit contends that only Congress holds constitutional power to approve tariffs, stating: “The President has upended the constitutional order and brought chaos to the American economy” by declaring dubious national emergencies to justify tariffs.
White House Fires Back: Accuses States of Political Witch Hunt
The Trump administration vehemently defended its actions, with spokesperson Kush Desai accusing New York’s attorney general of prioritizing “a witch hunt against President Trump over protecting constituents.”
The White House maintains the tariffs address “national emergencies” including border security threats and America’s growing trade deficit.
This marks the second major state-led lawsuit after California’s recent filing challenging the same legal authority.
Congressional research confirms no president has ever used the IEEPA for tariffs, strengthening the states’ argument against what they call an executive overreach.
