Twenty-five American states are suing the Trump administration over its latest tariffs, calling them a pretext for replacing import tariffs that were declared illegal earlier this year.
The tariffs of between 10% and 12% were imposed last month, the third round of tariffs since President Trump’s 30% “Liberation Day” tariffs announced last April.
When those were struck down by the US Supreme Court in February this year, new 10% tariffs were imposed for 150 days.
When that period ran out last month, the Trump administration announced the latest tariffs, on the basis that 59 countries and the European Union had not done enough to crack down on imports produced by forced labour, the Associated Press reported.
Now 25 US states, led by New York, are challenging the new tariffs.
“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,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The Trump administration is refunding the Round 1 tariffs that were declared illegal. A legal challenge to the Round 2 tariffs was launched in March. Now the Round 3 tariffs, too, are under legal threat.
