At least 12 states in the United States (US) have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump arguing that the president lacks the authority to impose such taxes without congressional approval.
Kris, Mayes, the Attorney General of the Arizona, US confirmed that the lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, April 23, stated that the tariffs are illegal.
She said, “President Trump’s insane tariff scheme is not only economically reckless, it is illegal.”
The lawsuit which was led by Arizona, includes Democratic-governed states like Minnesota, New York, and Oregon.
California, acting separately, had earlier filed a similar suit the previous week.
They argued that Trump misused a 1977 law, claiming it doesn’t give him the authority to declare an economic emergency in order to impose tariffs, a power the Constitution grants to Congress.
The lawsuit stated that, “By claiming the authority to impose immense and ever-changing tariffs on whatever goods entering the US he chooses, for whatever reason he finds convenient to declare an emergency, the President has upended the constitutional order and brought chaos to the American economy.”
Trump maintains that his protectionist stance will bring back manufacturing jobs to the US.
Meanwhile, Democrats are using the controversy to highlight the economic impact of his policies.
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently criticized Trump’s approach, calling the tariffs the worst own-goal in this country’s history.
President Donald Trump has disrupted global markets during his second term by abandoning decades of free trade policy, announcing sweeping tariffs on various countries under what he calls ‘Liberation Day.’
He has slapped a 145% import duty on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate with a 125% tariff on American products.
In addition, the administration has imposed 10% tariffs on several other trading partners and is threatening even higher rates.
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