Attorneys general from 12 US states on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, seeking to have new trade tariffs imposed by him declared illegal.
According to the lawsuit, Trump’s decisions on tariffs, their imposition, modification, increase and suspension “reflect the state of the country’s trade policy, which now depends on the whims of the president” and is not based on the effective exercise of his authority.
Prosecutors argue that the president does not have the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) without congressional input, according to the Constitution.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement announcing the lawsuit, “Trump’s insane tariff scheme is not only economically reckless – it’s illegal.”
According to New York Attorney General Letitia James, “the tariffs will lead to higher inflation, unemployment and economic harm.”
In addition to harming the economy, the head of state is accused of unreasonably imposing a state of emergency to bypass Congress to change Washington’s tariff policy.
The initiator of the appeal to the court was the attorney general of the state of Oregon. It was supported by the states of Arizona, Vermont, Delaware, Illinois, Colorado, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maine, Nevada, New York, New Mexico. Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and acting head of Customs and Border Protection Pete Flores are named as defendants.
On April 17, California was the first US state to sue President Donald Trump over his imposition of customs tariffs.
In early April, Trump announced his intention to raise tariffs on goods from a number of countries.
European politicians are also heavily critical of Trump’s tariff policy. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), wrote on X:
“Trump is dangerous to our world, not least because he does not understand what the world is made of. The United States, in order to maintain its dominance, is prepared to sacrifice everyone: that’s what he is telling the entire planet. If our side does not gain power, there will be no more common goods. Everything will be allowed to capital. And what follows from that? We will all die.”
