Several US states file lawsuits against Trumps new global tariffs

Twenty-four states in the United States have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the imposition of 10 percent global tariffs on imported goods. The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday in the New York-based US Court of International Trade, alleges that President Donald Trump’s administration is attempting to circumvent a recent US Supreme Court ruling that invalidated most of his previous tariffs on imported goods.

The states, led by Democratic-led states such as New York, California, and Oregon, argue that the new tariffs are also illegal. The lawsuit claims that Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose tariffs up to 15 percent, is only intended for short-term monetary emergencies, not routine trade deficits.

The Trump administration has imposed duties under Section 122 after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he imposed last year under an emergency powers law. The administration claims that the new tariffs are necessary to address America’s longstanding trade deficits. However, the states’ lawsuit argues that this interpretation is incorrect and that the president is misapplying the standard intended by Congress.

The court has already ruled that companies that paid tariffs under Trump’s old framework should receive refunds. The White House spokesperson has stated that the administration will vigorously defend the president’s action in court.

Source: Al Jazeera