By Micah Jonah, March 6, 2026
A coalition of 24 states in the United States has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump over newly imposed global tariffs, marking the first major legal challenge to the policy.
The states, led by Democratic attorneys general from New York, California and Oregon, are seeking to block a 10 percent tariff placed on imported goods shortly after a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that struck down earlier tariffs introduced by the administration.
The lawsuit was filed at the United States Court of International Trade in New York. The states argue that the President does not have the legal authority to impose the new tariffs by relying on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
According to the court filing, Section 122 allows a president to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15 percent for a period of five months in response to balance of payments emergencies. The states maintain that the law was designed to address monetary crises linked to the gold standard era, not general trade deficits.
President Trump has defended the tariffs, saying they are necessary to reduce long standing trade imbalances and protect American industries. The policy has become a central part of his economic and foreign policy agenda during his second term in office.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield of Oregon criticized the move, saying the tariffs attempt to bypass the constitutional role of Congress in regulating international trade. He argued that the policy could cost businesses and state economies billions of dollars.
The White House, however, said the administration would strongly defend the tariffs in court. Spokesperson Kush Desai said the President was exercising authority granted by Congress to address what the government described as serious international payments challenges.
The dispute comes weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unlawful, forcing the administration to seek alternative legal authority.
The court is also handling thousands of claims from companies seeking refunds for tariffs paid under the earlier framework. Importers are estimated to have paid more than 130 billion dollars before the ruling.
The new legal battle is expected to intensify the debate in the United States over trade policy and presidential powers in regulating international commerce.
