12 U.S. States Sue Trump Over Tariffs, Call Policy 'Reckless'

A coalition of 12 U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's tariff policy, accusing the administration of exceeding its legal authority and bypassing Congress.

The lawsuit, led by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, describes the tariffs as harmful to the economy and unconstitutional. “President Trump’s reckless tariff scheme is not only economically harmful — it’s illegal,” Mayes said.

The states involved in the lawsuit include Arizona, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and other Democratic-led states. California, though not part of this coalition, filed its own legal challenge just a week earlier.

Since returning to office, Trump has shaken global trade markets by imposing significant new tariffs as part of his "Liberation Day" policy shift. The U.S. has introduced a 145% import tax on Chinese goods, which prompted China to retaliate with a 125% tariff on U.S. exports. Trump insists that the tariffs are part of a strategy to negotiate a “fair deal” with Beijing, although tensions remain high.

In addition to the tariffs targeting China, the U.S. has levied a 10% tariff on imports from other countries, with further aggressive actions possible.

Central to the legal challenge is the 1977 law Trump cited to justify the tariffs, which the states argue does not grant the president the power to impose such broad trade restrictions without Congress's approval. The lawsuit asserts that Trump’s actions undermine the constitutional balance of power and destabilize the economy.

“The President cannot declare an emergency on a whim and impose massive tariffs at will,” the lawsuit claims. “This injects uncertainty into global markets.”

Trump maintains that his protectionist approach is designed to revitalize U.S. manufacturing, but critics argue that the burden falls on American consumers and businesses.

“Tariffs are taxes, plain and simple — and Arizona families will be the ones footing the bill,” Mayes said.

Amid growing political fallout, Trump’s approval rating has reportedly dropped to 44%, just three months into his second term. Democratic leaders have criticized the administration’s economic policies, linking them to rising costs and market instability.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently called the tariff strategy “the worst own-goal in the history of this country.”