On Monday, August 4th, 2026, twenty-five US states, predominantly led by Democrats, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its recent imposition of broad tariffs on 60 trading partners, which constitute the majority of US imports. The states argue that President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority by enacting tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing forced labor allegations as justification.

The lawsuit was filed at the US Court of International Trade in New York, requesting the court to halt the tariffs, declare them unlawful, and order the government to issue refunds to importers. The coalition contends there is "no rational fit between the purported problem of forced labor in international supply chains and the blanket global tariffs the USTR imposed," describing the action as "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law," and a "pretextual and unlawful effort to exert unfettered tariff power."

These tariffs followed the expiration of temporary tariffs previously used by the administration, which were struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2026. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, "After losing at the Supreme Court, the administration is once again trying to illegally raise taxes on families and businesses with a new round of tariffs." Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield added that despite legal setbacks, Trump is attempting to impose further burdens on working families and businesses.

The White House responded by defending the tariffs as lawful, with spokesperson Kush Desai stating, "The United States is using its lawful authority to obtain the elimination of unreasonable acts, policies, and practices that burden US commerce." Desai also emphasized that "Section 301 tariffs have proven to be a legally durable tool since the President's first term, and they remain so now."

The states involved in the lawsuit include Democratic-led Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, plus Republican-led Nevada and Vermont.

The tariffs target 59 countries plus the European Union, accusing them of insufficient action against imports produced by forced labor.

Sources