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US states sue to block Trump tariffs on goods from 60 partners
The tariffs, imposed under Section 301, cover 99.4% of US imports and range from 10% to 12.5%, taking effect in July.
Twenty five US states have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration to block new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners. The duties took effect in July and are aimed at countries including the UK, China, and the European Union, as Washington argues they have not properly addressed forced labour concerns, according to BBC Business.
The tariffs were imposed under Section 301 of the 1974 US Trade Act and target nations Washington says are failing to tackle forced labour, with the Office of the US Trade Representative estimating the measures apply to 99.4% of US imports. In response, the White House said it is using lawful authority to address practices that burden American businesses.
BBC Business reports that the plaintiffs and critics argue the scope is too broad. New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the tariffs a tax on families, while Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said states and local businesses would bear the costs.
Several affected governments also pushed back, including Brazil and Japan, which separately called the measures unjustified, and China, which described them as political manipulation. The dispute also arrives amid a broader trade policy push since Trump returned to office in January 2025, with earlier “Liberation Day” duties from April last year struck down by the US Supreme Court, BBC Business added.