- August 4, 2026
25 Democratic-Led States Sue Trump Admin Over Latest Tariff Move Targeting 60 Nations
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In the lawsuit, the coalition argued that the tariffs were not properly linked to the administration’s stated concerns over forced labour in global supply chains.
US President Donald Trump. (AFP photo)
Twenty-five Democratic-led US states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its latest tariff measures on goods from 60 countries and accusing President Donald Trump of exceeding his authority.
The complaint, filed on Monday in the US Court of International Trade, argues that the administration’s sweeping tariffs lack a proper legal basis and were imposed without adequate justification.
The states are challenging tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on most imports from the affected economies, which they say together account for around 99.4% of US imports.
In the lawsuit, the coalition argued that the tariffs were not properly linked to the administration’s stated concerns over forced labour in global supply chains. “There is no rational fit between the purported problem of forced labor in international supply chains and the blanket global tariffs the USTR imposed,” the filing said.
States accuse Trump of bypassing trade rules
The states alleged that the US Trade Representative (USTR) conducted rushed investigations into the 60 economies, failed to carry out required country-specific consultations and did not explain why similar tariff rates were applied to countries with different trade practices and labour policies.
The legal challenge comes after the Trump administration used a different trade law to revive its tariff policy following earlier setbacks in court. The states argue that the administration is improperly using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to bring back duties that faced legal challenges.
The new tariffs took effect on July 24, replacing an earlier global tariff programme introduced by Trump. The measures affect major trading partners, including China, India and the European Union, and have drawn criticism from several countries.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had defended the move, saying the US has long enforced a ban on imports linked to forced labour and urging trading partners to adopt similar measures.
(With inputs from agencies)
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