California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to announce a lawsuit against President Trump's executive, which has imposed international tariffs without Congress' approval.
The governor's office says legal action will argue that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump cited tariffs, does not grant him the ability to unilaterally tariffs on goods imported to the United States
“President Trump's illegal tariffs are causing chaos for California households, businesses and our economy – raising prices and threatening jobs,” Newsom said in a statement. “We support American families who cannot keep the chaos going.”
The case marks the first time Newsom has played a leading role in California’s 15 lawsuits against the current Trump administration, suggesting a potential departure from his approach to the president that has been more reserved for Trump during his second term. Status so far. General Rob Bonta has always been in the face of California's legal battle with the federal government, and Newsom usually distances itself from the quarrels back and forth of the court.
Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Trump imposes a 10% benchmark tariff on all imported goods, higher taxes on goods in Mexico, Canada and China, and specific taxes on products and materials such as automobiles and aluminum. The president threatened to suspend additional tariffs on other countries this summer.
California's nearly $675 billion in two-way deals last year would lose billions of state revenue under Trump's tariffs if international business declines and stock market tanks. Mexico, Canada and China represent the state's three largest trading partners.
“The president's chaos and accidental tariff implementation is not only disturbing, but illegal,” Bonta said in a statement. “From the impact of presidential choices (from farmers in the Central Valley to small businesses in Sacramento to small businesses on the kitchen table), Californians are preparing for the consequences.
The Newsom office said the law provides actions that can be taken if the president declares a national emergency against foreign national security, foreign policy or economic threats, “but tariffs are not one of them.”
According to the law on the Congressional website, Trump has not previously used the bill to impose tariffs on imported products from specific countries or products imported to the United States in general.
According to the Bonta office, the complaint will point to the bill that will enable Congress to impose tariffs and will require a U.S. District Court to Trump’s tariff order in the northern California area.
If California eventually prevails, demanding Congress vote in Washington to impose Trump tariffs could put Republican lawmakers in a fragile political position in the midterm elections. A recent CBS News poll showed that 58% of Americans opposed U.S. tariffs on imported goods.
Bonta is expected to discuss the lawsuit with the governor at a press conference in Central Valley on Wednesday morning.
Kevin Rector, an employee of the era, contributed to the report.
