Washington, D.C.: A coalition of 25 Democratic-led US states has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs, arguing that the administration is once again exceeding its legal authority after the US Supreme Court struck down similar tariff measures earlier this year. The case was filed in the US Court of International Trade, with the states seeking to block tariffs imposed on imports from 60 trading partners, including the European Union.

The lawsuit marks the latest legal challenge to Trump’s trade policy and comes just weeks after the administration announced fresh import duties ranging from 10% to 12.5%, citing concerns over forced labour in global supply chains.

States challenge legality of tariffs

According to the lawsuit, the states argue that the new tariffs are an unlawful attempt to replace import duties that were invalidated by the Supreme Court in February 2026.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the lead plaintiffs, accused the administration of attempting to “illegally raise taxes” on American families and businesses after losing its earlier legal battle over tariffs.

Tariffs target 60 trading partners

The Trump administration imposed the latest tariffs on goods imported from 60 countries and trading partners, including the European Union.

Officials have defended the move by arguing that the affected countries have not done enough to prevent products made using forced labour from entering global supply chains. The administration says the tariffs were imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, rather than the emergency powers used for previous tariffs.

Supreme Court ruling fuels fresh dispute

Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that the administration could not rely on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs, forcing the White House to withdraw those measures.

The states now argue that the latest tariffs amount to another attempt to achieve the same objective through a different legal route, despite the earlier court decision.

Administration defends new policy

The Trump administration maintains that the latest tariffs are legally valid because they are based on Section 301 of the Trade Act, a long-established trade law used to respond to unfair international trade practices.

Officials argue that the measures are intended to combat forced labour and protect American manufacturers from unfair competition.

Which states joined the lawsuit?

The lawsuit includes New York, California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The coalition argues that the tariffs will increase costs for consumers, disrupt businesses and place an unnecessary financial burden on state economies.

Trade policy faces continuing legal scrutiny

The latest lawsuit follows several previous legal challenges by businesses and state governments against Trump’s tariff policies.

Legal experts say the administration may have a stronger legal argument under Section 301 than it did under emergency powers, but the new tariffs are still expected to face close judicial scrutiny because of their broad scope.

Conclusion

The legal battle over President Donald Trump’s trade agenda has entered a new phase as 25 Democratic-led states seek to block the latest tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners. While the administration insists the duties are necessary to combat forced labour and protect US industry, the states argue they amount to another unlawful attempt to impose broad import taxes. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for US trade policy and presidential authority over tariffs.