James Ousts Illegal Trump Tariffs in Legal Victory

New York – A resounding defeat for the Trump administration’s emergency tariffs came as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that these levies, imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), were illegal. Attorney General Letitia James hailed this victory, which joins a string of successes in their fight against the former president’s economic policies.

In a statement, AG James said, ‘Once again, a court has ruled that the president cannot invent a fake economic emergency to justify billions of dollars in tariffs. These are taxes on Americans – they drive up costs for working families and businesses nationwide, fueling inflation and job losses.’

The legal battle began in April when AG James led a coalition of 11 attorneys general against the Trump administration’s action. The initial suit was filed for violating the law by imposing massive tariffs under IEEPA, causing economic distress. The United States Court of International Trade ruled in favor of AG James and the coalition in May.

The appeals court today echoed this decision, affirming that the Trump administration lacks the authority to impose these tariffs via executive order under IEEPA. The states involved in the lawsuit are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont.

This victory is seen as a significant step towards upholding the rule of law and protecting the economic interests of Americans across the country. AG James’ relentless pursuit of justice has once again demonstrated her commitment to defending the public interest.