• A coalition of 12 states has sued the Trump administration to block its tariff policy.
• The lawsuit alleges the tariffs violate Congressional authority and were imposed unlawfully.
• State leaders warn that Trump’s tariffs could lead to significant job losses and economic instability.
• New York and California have taken prominent roles in the legal actions against these tariffs.
• White House officials refer to the lawsuit as a "witch hunt" against the president.

A coalition of twelve states, led by New York and joined by Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, and Vermont, filed a lawsuit against President Trump's administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade, arguing that his tariff policy is illegal and has caused chaos to the American economy. The lawsuit asserts that the tariffs are driven by Trump’s "whims" rather than lawful authority, challenging the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose such tariffs without Congressional approval, according to SCMP, The Hill, HuffPost, and CBS News.

The lawsuit claims that by invoking the IEEPA, Trump has exceeded his authority, as the act is meant to address significant threats from abroad. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes criticized the tariff scheme as "insane" and "economically reckless," indicating it imposes a tax that will ultimately burden consumers, while Connecticut Attorney General William Tong labeled the tariffs "lawless" and harmful to families. This assertion is echoed by multiple state officials concerned about potential job losses and economic repercussions, according to India Times, New York Times, and TRT Global.

Additionally, California's Governor Gavin Newsom had filed a separate lawsuit alleging that the tariffs would adversely affect the state's economy, warning of projected billion-dollar losses as it is the largest importer in the U.S. Trump's administration has described these lawsuits as politically motivated and part of a wider "witch hunt" against him, asserting that the tariffs are necessary to combat national emergencies such as fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration, according to BBC and Dawn.

Legal experts caution that if the courts side with the states, it could lead to significant re-evaluations of executive powers regarding trade and tariffs, emphasizing the potential for economic disruption across various sectors if the current tariff policies are upheld. The multistate coalition is asking for an urgent court decision to halt the implementation and enforcement of the tariffs, as their detrimental effects are already being felt in local economies, as stated in various sources including Newsweek and India Times.