New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling the Trump administration's latest tariffs "nothing more than a tax on hardworking families" as New York and several other states have filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking the measures.
Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James announced their participation in the multi-state legal action on Monday, August 3, less than two weeks after President Donald Trump declared new tariffs against 60 countries ranging from 10% to 12.5%.
These levies, which Hochul says are "driving up the cost of groceries, household essentials, building materials and countless everyday goods that New Yorkers rely on" are the third attempt by the Trump administration in recent history to impose taxes on other countries.
In February,
the U.S. Supreme Court struck down previously imposed tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Court of International Trade ruled the president's additional tariffs instituted in response to the Supreme Court's ruling were illegal in May.
"The Supreme Court has made it clear that this Administration cannot ignore the law to impose sweeping tariffs," Hochul said. "I will not stand by as New Yorkers continue to suffer the consequences of the President’s trade war, and I’m proud to join Attorney General James in fighting back against the Trump Administration to protect families and businesses across our state."
Here's what to know.
Which countries are affected by the latest Trump tariffs?
On July 23, the Trump administration imposed new tariffs on several trading partners through Section 301 of the Trade Act following an investigation into 59 countries and the European Union (EU) over forced labor practices in global trade, which was announced in March. These tariffs were announced the day Trump's previous tariffs were set to expire.
Sixteen countries are facing a 10% tariff rate, which include Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico and the EU. The remaining countries, which include Japan, China, South Korea and Australia, have been imposed with a 12.5% tariff rate.
Why New York says Trump tariffs are "illegal"
Section 301 of the Trade Act gives the U.S. Trade Representative the authority to stop a trading partner's "unreasonable or discriminatory" acts or policies, according to the state.
And while the Trump administration asserts it's using this specific part of the Trade Act to combat forced labor in global trade, New York and 24 other states argue in the lawsuit that this reason doesn't "satisfy the requirements" of the section and the administration will instead use it to impose the same tariffs they've been trying to enact previously.
The lawsuit also argues that through these tariffs, the administration has violated the Administrative Procedure Act, saying they "failed to conduct a meaningful investigation," failed to "engage substantively with testimony and comments submitted" and applied these sweeping tariffs "with no meaningful explanation for how the tariff rates would combat forced labor."
"After losing at the Supreme Court, the administration is once again trying to illegally raise taxes on families and businesses with a new round of tariffs," James said. "No matter how the administration tries to justify it, the law and our Constitution are clear that the president does not have the power to impose sweeping tariffs on whatever countries he wants."
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers' taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY sues Trump administration over new tariffs as 'a tax' on Americans
