US States File Suit to Block Trump Tariffs

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:24:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Twenty-five democratic states sue Trump administration over 10‑12% tariffs on 60 global partners, citing sweeping trade policy and forced labour claims.

Twenty‑five U.S. states launched a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s federal tariff policy, arguing that the 10‑12.5 % duties on 60 trading partners were arbitrary and unlawful under the Trade Act. The tariffs, imposed under Section 301, target the U.K., China, the EU, Japan, Brazil and Taiwan for alleged forced‑labour in their supply chains. Washington counters that the measures are legally justified to protect American businesses from exploitative labour practices. The legal challenge follows Supreme Court rulings striking down previous tariffs and an impending review of 16 countries for manufacturing over‑capacity.

States File Suit to Block Trump Tariffs

On 4 August, twenty‑five U.S. states filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes that hit 60 trading partners with rates ranging between 10 % and 12.5 %. The states argue that the measures violate the 1974 Trade Act and are “arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law”. The tariffs, applied under Section 301, target the United Kingdom, China, the European Union, Japan, Brazil and Taiwan among others, citing their failure to curb forced labour in supply chains.

Federal officials counter that the U.S. has the “lawful authority” to impose tariffs to protect domestic businesses from exploitative labour practices. White House spokesperson Kush Desai warned that countries could not “use forced labour as a pre‑text” for continuing tariff measures. The USTR says the duties cover 99.4 % of U.S. imports.

The lawsuit, filed in a district court, claims the administration “cannot use forced labour as a pretext to continue its illegal tariff scheme.” Critics from the affected nations, including Brazil and Japan, have expressed disappointment, calling the tariffs “unjustified”. China’s foreign ministry termed the measures “political manipulation”.

The action follows a cascade of Trump‑era trade policies, some of which were struck down by the Supreme Court. A temporary 10 % levy on all global imports replaced the earlier “Liberation Day” tariffs, but it expired in July. The U.S. is now investigating 16 countries over alleged manufacturing overcapacity.