12 U.S. States Sue Trump Over Tariffs, Accuse Administration of Constitutional Overreach
A dozen U.S. states have launched a high-stakes legal battle against former President Donald Trump’s administration, challenging the legality of sweeping new tariffs that they say threaten the economy and violate the U.S. Constitution.
Filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, the lawsuit contests the administration’s blanket 10% “baseline” tariff on all imports, with rates soaring up to 50% for designated “worst offenders.” The policy, introduced earlier this month, has rattled global markets and triggered intense political backlash at home.
The plaintiff states—Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont—are demanding an injunction to block enforcement of the tariffs, which they describe as reckless and legally unfounded.
“This policy is not rooted in law—it’s rooted in the whims of one man,” the lawsuit argues. “By declaring economic emergencies at will and imposing ever-shifting tariffs, the President has upended the constitutional order and injected chaos into the American economy.”
At the center of the legal fight is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—a law designed for national security crises, not unilateral economic policy. The states argue Trump is misusing the statute to bypass Congress, which holds the exclusive power to regulate trade.
“The IEEPA was never intended as a shortcut to economic dictatorship,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. “Trump’s chaotic and unlawful tariffs are a direct tax on working families and a disaster for local economies.”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called the policy “insane,” warning that it’s not only economically dangerous but “blatantly unconstitutional.”
The lawsuit demands the tariffs be declared unlawful and urges the court to restrain federal agencies from enforcing them. Legal analysts say the outcome could redefine executive authority in trade, setting a major precedent as federal-state tensions intensify.
The Trump administration has defended the policy as a strategic response to global trade imbalances and a necessary move to protect U.S. industry. But critics say it amounts to an authoritarian power grab with devastating economic consequences.
As this legal showdown begins, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about tariffs—it’s a constitutional test that could reshape the balance of power in Washington.
