California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) announced plans to surrender the Trump administration on Wednesday.
The lawsuit, which is scheduled to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues that the president is not authorized to impose sudden import taxes through the International Economic Emergency Rights Act. The duo alleged that tariffs “disturbed” the supply chain, hiking costs for Californians and damaging the state’s economy.
“President Trump’s illegal tariffs are causing disruption to California families, businesses and our economy. It’s price hikes and threatening work,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re standing up for American families who can’t afford to continue the chaos.”
Trump and his allies have vehemently defended his trade agenda, claiming that their obligations will lead to a revival of US manufacturing and help reduce the country’s growing deficit.
The president has imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, the largest trading partners in the United States, and claims that US neighbors have not done enough to keep the flow of illegal drugs in the country. He recently implemented a 10% baseline tariff on almost all imports, and has levied even higher mutual taxes in many countries, but most of these are suspended except in China, which currently has a 145% tax.
The lawsuit represents California’s first challenge to the president’s agenda in court since Trump’s second White House term began in January.
The move places Newsom on the clash course with the president just months after the governor aims to build a better relationship with Trump when he seeks federal aid in light of the deadly Los Angeles fire.
“Californians are seeking fallout due to the impact of the president’s choice — from farmers in the Central Valley to small businesses in Sacramento to worrying at kitchen tables,” Bonta said in a statement, adding, “This game has very realistic outcomes for Californians across our state.”
