25 US States Sue Trump Over Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners

Twenty-five US states filed suit on Monday against the Trump administration over new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% imposed on goods from 60 trading partners, including the UK, China and the European Union.

The tariffs came into force in July under Section 301 of the 1974 US Trade Act, targeting countries that tolerate forced labour. They cover 99.4% of all US imports, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.

States Call Tariffs Arbitrary and Illegal

The coalition described the decision as "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law." New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated: "President Trump's illegal tariffs are nothing more than a tax on hardworking families."

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield added: "Despite losing every step of the way, Trump is trying yet again to inflict more chaos on working families and homegrown Oregon businesses. We're all paying the price for these unlawful tariffs, not foreign governments."

White House Defends the Move

White House spokesman Kush Desai said the administration was "using its lawful authority" to address practices that burden American businesses. Japan, Brazil, Taiwan and China have each criticised the tariffs as "unjustified"; China's foreign ministry called them an "excuse for political manipulation."

Analysts have questioned how countries could demonstrate compliance with the forced labour criteria given the breadth of the tariffs, which the lawsuit says "defy the USTR's own stated aims and make a mockery of the statute used to justify them."