24 States Sue to Block Trump's 10% Tariffs

Edgen Stock·Mar 05 2026, 19:17

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Key Takeaways

A coalition of two dozen U.S. states has initiated legal action to halt new tariffs from the Trump administration, arguing the move is an illegal overreach of executive power. The lawsuit challenges tariffs currently set at 10%, which are expected to escalate to 15% this week, creating significant uncertainty for U.S. businesses and consumers reliant on imported goods.

Twenty-four U.S. states have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade to block the Trump administration's new import tariffs.
The tariffs, imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, are set at 10% and are slated to increase to 15% this week.
This legal challenge follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the administration's previous tariffs, arguing the new levies illegally raise taxes on consumers and businesses.

24 States Challenge Legality of 10% Import Tariffs

A coalition of two dozen states, led by attorneys general from California and New York, filed a lawsuit on Thursday to block the Trump administration's latest round of import tariffs. The suit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, contends that the President's use of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 is illegal and that the justifications provided do not meet the limited circumstances required by the statute.

Once again, President Trump is ignoring the law and the Constitution to effectively raise taxes on consumers and small businesses. After the Supreme Court rejected his first attempt to impose sweeping tariffs, the president is causing more economic chaos and expecting Americans to foot the bill.

— Letitia James, New York Attorney General.

Tariffs Set to Escalate to 15% This Week

The contested tariffs are currently set at a 10% rate, according to an executive order signed last month. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated they are scheduled to increase to 15% this week. This new tariff regime was implemented in February after the Supreme Court invalidated a previous attempt by the administration to impose similar levies under different legal authority. The Section 122 power invoked by the administration has a 150-day limit without an extension from Congress, but officials have indicated they are exploring other legal avenues to reconstruct their long-term tariff strategy.