Blue states challenge Trump’s new tariffs 

Democratic-led states on Thursday sued President Trump over his new tariffs, asserting they are illegal like his previous ones, which were recently struck down by the Supreme Court.

Following the high court’s 6-3 blockbuster ruling that Trump can’t invoke a 1977 emergency law to impose his sweeping levies, the president has turned his gaze to another law that does authorize tariffs.

Known as Section 122, the president has leveraged it to announce a 15 percent tariff on most imported goods worldwide. 

But the Democratic-led states claim Trump can’t use Section 122 because the statute provides authority limited to respond to a balance-of-payments crisis. 

“This is not new terrain for California, but it is exasperating,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) said in a statement. “Why is President Trump — who ran on the promise of making life more affordable for families — breaking the law to raise the cost of living for Americans?” 

Bonta is leading the lawsuit with three other attorneys general from Democratic- led states: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. 

They’re joined by Democratic attorneys general in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. 

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) also signed on as plaintiffs, as their states’ attorneys general are Republicans. 

Trump administration officials have defended the president’s new tariffs, insisting they are legal. The president himself has repeatedly said the Supreme Court’s decision vindicates his move, latching onto comments from the dissenters.

“The President is using his authority granted by Congress to address fundamental international payments problems and to deal with our country’s large and serious balance-of-payments deficits. The Administration will vigorously defend the President’s action in court,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.

Some of the Democratic-led states were part of the coalition that toppled Trump’s previous tariffs at the high court last month. The businesses they sued alongside, who actually paid import fees, are now leading the fight for refunds.  

“The focus right now should be on paying people back, not doubling down on illegal tariffs,” Rayfield said in a statement. “People are already making hard choices about what to put in their shopping cart. Prices on basics like groceries, clothing and other essentials have all been skyrocketing. At some point, the bills become unmanageable.”