States Sue Trump Over Global Tariffs, Claiming They Violate Constitutional Limits

Twelve U.S. states have filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's global tariffs, arguing that he overstepped his authority by bypassing Congress and imposing duties under an emergency economic law. The complaint, filed Wednesday in the U.S. Court of International Trade in Manhattan, claims that Congress did not grant Trump the power to enact these tariffs and that the nation's trade policy has become subject to the president's "whims," undermining the constitutional framework.

The lawsuit, which includes New York, Illinois, and Arizona, asserts that Trump's actions have "upended the constitutional order" and created chaos in the U.S. economy.

A White House spokesperson responded, criticizing the Democratic officials behind the lawsuit for focusing on a "witch hunt" rather than prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of their constituents. White House spokesman Kush Desai emphasized the administration’s commitment to using its full legal authority to address national emergencies, including illegal migration, fentanyl flow, and the U.S. trade deficit.

This lawsuit follows several others, including those filed by California, small businesses, and the Blackfeet Nation tribe in Montana, which raise similar concerns. The states are seeking a court order to halt the tariffs, including those that Trump paused on April 9. They argue that the tariffs amount to a de facto tax on American consumers.

New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized Trump for using tariffs as a means of raising taxes on Americans, pointing out that these tariffs contradict his promise to reduce prices and ease the cost of living.

The lawsuit targets Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which the president invoked to justify his most impactful tariffs. The states contend that the law, designed to limit presidential abuse of emergency powers, was intended to address "unusual and extraordinary threats," a criterion they argue does not apply to persistent trade deficits or other issues raised by Trump.

The case, titled State of Oregon v. Trump, argues that these issues are not "unusual and extraordinary," as trade deficits are a long-standing concern. The lawsuit comes just one day after Trump softened his stance on tariffs against China, though global markets remain wary of his unpredictable policy shifts.

The states involved in the lawsuit are Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, New Mexico, Vermont, Nevada, Delaware, Minnesota, and Maine. The case is being heard in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York.