On Monday, a coalition of 25 states initiated legal action against the Trump administration in the US Court of International Trade. The lawsuit challenges the administration’s recent imposition of tariffs, which range from 10% to 12.5% on goods imported from 60 trading partners, including the European Union. The states involved in the litigation are seeking a court order to halt the collection of these tariffs, declare them unlawful, and mandate refunds for duties already paid.

The core of the legal dispute centers on the states' claim that these new tariffs are a "pretext" designed to circumvent a February Supreme Court ruling that invalidated previous import taxes. According to the filing, the countries affected by these new measures account for approximately 99.4% of total US imports. While the states characterize the administration's actions as an illegal tax hike, the administration maintains its authority to implement these trade policies. The legal challenge represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between state governments and federal trade policy, with the outcome likely to hinge on whether the court views the new tariffs as distinct policy measures or as a direct attempt to bypass the judiciary's earlier decision.