Twelve U.S. States Sue Trump over Sweeping Tariffs

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trump’s tariffs are facing a major legal challenge, as New York and 11 other U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, arguing that they undermine Congress’ constitutional authority on foreign commerce, as quoted from NBC News.

Citing Fox News, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, challenging Trump’s use of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from countries worldwide. 

In addition to New York, the Attorneys General of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont have joined the case.

The coalition is seeking the court to block further tariff enforcement and declare the orders unconstitutional under the Constitution and federal law.

These 12 states argue that the Constitution gives power to Congress, not the president, to impose taxes and tariffs, and that the IEEPA was never intended to sanction trade policies on this scale.

"President Trump’s reckless tariffs have skyrocketed costs for consumers and unleashed economic chaos across the country," said Governor Kathy Hochul.

"New York is standing up to fight back against the largest federal tax hike in American history. Attorney General James and I are partnering on this litigation on behalf of New York consumers, because we can't let President Trump push our country into a recession."

New York Attorney General Letitia James affirmed that the president does not have the authority to raise taxes on a whim. "His tariffs are unlawful and, if not stopped, they will lead to more inflation, unemployment, and economic damage."

Governor Hochul and Attorney General James, both vocal critics of the Trump administration, have often clashed with the president over various issues, ranging from immigration to environmental policies. This latest lawsuit marks another major confrontation.

Since February 2025, Trump has signed several executive orders imposing new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, and nearly all other U.S. trading partners.

The Trump administration cited a national emergency as the basis for imposing new import tariffs, including drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and unfair trade practices. The states in the lawsuit claim the president's justification is vague and legally insufficient.

The IEEPA, enacted in 1977, allows the president to respond to specific international threats, such as terrorism or hostile foreign actors. However, according to the lawsuit, no president in the 48 years since the rule was enacted has used it to impose tariffs.

The lawsuit states that the new tariffs were imposed without congressional approval or the necessary legal findings to justify large-scale trade actions.

The lawsuit also claims that the tariffs are not connected to a specific unusual and extraordinary threat as laid out under the IEEPA, which the Trump administration cited as its authority.

The states claim that the tariffs will significantly raise consumer prices, drive inflation, lead to job losses, and create widespread economic instability.

The lawsuit also claims that the government's ever-changing policies-often altered through executive orders or social media-have created chaos in trade and financial markets.

Supporters of the Trump administration say the tariffs are a bold step to protect American industries and address long-standing trade imbalances.

"The Trump Administration remains committed to using its full legal authority to confront the distinct national emergencies our country is currently facing—both the scourge of illegal migration and fentanyl flows across our border and the exploding annual U.S. goods trade deficit," White House spokesperson Kush Desai wrote exclusively to Fox News Digital.

At a press conference in February 2025, President Trump said, "We took in hundreds of billions of dollars [with past tariffs]… It’s going to make our country rich," framing the measures as a continuation of his America First economic agenda.

However, the lawsuit paints a different picture of legal overreach and lack of transparency. The lawsuit states that if President Trump's actions are allowed, any future president could impose taxes under the guise of emergency authority, bypassing Congress.

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