Twenty-five U.S. states, almost all led by Democrats, sued the Trump administration on Monday over its latest wide-ranging tariffs imposed on dozens of countries, including key trading partners, arguing that the president had exceeded his authority.
The states filed suit at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, asking that judges halt the implementation of the tariffs, declare them unlawful and order the government to issue refunds.
"There is no rational fit between the purported problem of forced labor in international supply chains and the blanket global tariffs the USTR imposed," the coalition of states argued in a court filing, referring to the U.S. Trade Representative's office.
The challenge is related to Trump's latest salvo of tariffs in a range between 10% and 12.5% imposed against 60 trading partners last month.
The tariffs were imposed after probes by the USTR's office over allegations of "forced labor," conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
