A coalition of states, led by Oregon, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government over a new round of tariffs imposed on dozens of trading partners. Al Jazeera English headlined it "Trump administration sued by 25 states over new tariffs on trading partners". The Washington Times headlined it "25 states sue over Trump's new tariffs, calling them 'pretext' to replace his old ones".
The states argue that the new duties amount to an attempt to bring back tariffs that had previously been struck down by the Supreme Court. Reason headlined it "Twenty-five States, Led by Oregon, File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Section 301 Tariffs". ""After losing at the Supreme Court, the administration is once again trying to illegally raise taxes on families and businesses with a new round of tariffs," said New York Attorney General Letitia James."1, Al Jazeera English said.
Officials making the case against the tariffs described them as an illegal tax on ordinary families and businesses. ""President Trump's illegal tariffs are nothing more than a tax on hardworking families," said New York Governor Kathy Hochul."2, BBC News said.
Critics of the administration's approach also argued that the underlying law was never meant to authorize such broad measures against nearly all major trading partners at once. Reason stated: "The bottom line is that the administration is trying to use a statute limited to tariffs targeting specific trading practices as a blank check to start a massive trade war with nearly all our major trading partners."3
The administration defended its actions, saying the tariffs were a lawful tool aimed at addressing unfair foreign trade practices that burden American commerce. ""The United States is using its lawful authority to obtain the elimination of unreasonable acts, policies, and practices that burden U.S. commerce," White House spokesman Kush Desai said."4, The Washington Times said.
Abroad, the tariffs drew criticism as well, with a spokesperson for the Chinese government calling them a pretext for political manipulation. BBC News said: "China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the tariffs as an "2excuse for political manipulation"."
The dispute has been described in different ways by different officials, but it centers on whether the executive branch overstepped its legal authority in imposing the tariffs. BBC News headlined it "US states sue to block Trump tariffs impacting dozens of countries".
