US states sue to block Trump tariffs impacting dozens of countries

Twenty-five American states have initiated legal action against President Donald Trump's administration over recent tariffs imposed on goods from 60 trading partners. The tariffs, which took effect in July, targeted countries such as the United Kingdom, China, and the European Union, primarily due to Washington's claim that these nations have not adequately addressed forced labor issues.

A coalition of Democratic states accused the administration's decision as "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law." In response, White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated that the U.S. is utilizing its lawful authority to tackle practices that adversely affect American businesses, asserting that a foreign country's failure to address goods produced with forced labor is "unreasonable" and must be addressed.

The new tariffs, imposed under Section 301 of the 1974 US Trade Act, impact 99.4% of U.S. imports, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The lawsuit claims that the Trump administration cannot use forced labor as a justification for continuing its illegal tariff scheme, arguing that the USTR's imposed duties are excessively broad and defy the statute's intended aims.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield condemned the tariffs, stating that they are nothing more than a "tax on hardworking families and homegrown Oregon businesses."

Several affected trading partners, including Brazil and Japan, have expressed disappointment over the new tariffs, with China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning describing the measures as "unjustified." The tariffs have also been criticized for being an "excuse for political manipulation" by China. Analysts have questioned how countries could demonstrate proper action against forced labor claims.

This move comes amid a broader series of trade policies introduced by Trump since his return to office in January 2025. Some of the wide-ranging duties imposed during his "Liberation Day" tariffs in April 2024 were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, leading to billions of dollars in refunds to companies that had paid the levies.

The president has consistently argued that tariffs protect American workers and bolster the U.S. economy. The tariffs that were invalidated were replaced with a temporary 10% levy on all global imports, which expired in July. The U.S. is currently investigating 16 countries over claims of manufacturing overcapacity, potentially signaling more tariffs in the future.