Letitia James Leads 25 States in Lawsuit Against the Administration Over New Tariffs
New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 25 Democratic-led states in a lawsuit against the administration's latest round of tariffs. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, argues that the administration is using forced labor violations as a pretext to illegally raise taxes on American families and businesses. While the administration defended the move as a lawful use of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the states contend that the new levies are arbitrary and capricious. The lawsuit follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down previous broad tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. To recover lost revenue, the administration implemented temporary duties that have now expired. White House spokesman Kush Desai stated that the administration is using its lawful authority to eliminate unreasonable practices that burden U.S. commerce. The administration announced these new tariffs to target 60 trading partners, including the European Union, aiming to revive American manufacturing.