Dozen states challenge Trump’s tariffs, deeming them illegal

In the United States, a dozen states filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump on April 22, 2025, contesting the legality of his newly imposed tariffs on foreign imports. The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. Court of International Trade in Washington, D.C., claims that the president has overstepped his authority by enacting tariffs through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which they argue was not intended for this purpose. The states involved include New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont. The complaint specifically states that the president lacks the power to arbitrarily impose taxes, as the U.S. Constitution assigns this power exclusively to Congress. Arizona's Attorney General, Kris Mayes, emphasized the detrimental economic impact of these tariffs, asserting that they represent a significant tax increase that directly affects consumers. This legal challenge comes shortly after a group of small businesses filed a similar suit against Trump, based on the same legal grounds concerning the authority to impose tariffs. Legal scholars and former officials have also rallied in support of this case, filing an amicus brief opposing the president's tariff policy. They argue that the unilateral imposition of tariffs by the executive branch circumvents the necessary checks and balances instituted by the Constitution, which require congressional input on such significant economic matters. The states' lawsuit seeks to have the court declare the tariffs unlawful, prevent their enforcement, and vacate the actions taken to implement them. This case highlights a growing concern over executive power and its limits in the realm of trade, as past presidents have not used IEEPA in this way. The plaintiffs assert that such actions not only destabilize economic conditions but also disregard the legislative process that is supposed to govern taxation and trade policy.