Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-08-04 · by Adam Hancock
A group of 25 Democratic-led states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new double-digit tariffs imposed on 60 trading partners last month, alleging that President Trump exceeded his legal authority in implementing the levies. The lawsuit claims that the tariffs are an attempt to illegally raise taxes on families and businesses, and that they will not address the real problem of forced labor. The states argue that the tariffs use "forced labor" as a pretext to re-impose tariffs that had already been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court. The new tariffs affect more than 99% of US imports.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Twenty-five US states, led by Democratic attorneys general from states such as Oregon and New York, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block new tariffs imposed on 60 trading partners, including the UK, China, and the European Union. The tariffs, which range between 10% and 12.5%, were implemented in July under Section 301 of the 1974 US Trade Act, citing forced labor concerns. However, the states claim that the decision was "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law" and will harm their residents and businesses. The tariffs cover 99.4% of US imports, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR). This lawsuit marks a challenge to President Trump's trade policies, which have been criticized for being overly broad and punitive.
Written for “US Tariffs Lawsuit” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's language is largely critical of Trump's tariffs, with phrases such as 'illegally raise taxes' and 'pretext to re-impose the tariffs that had already been ruled illegal in court'. Additionally, the quotes from New York Attorney General Letitia James and the characterization of Trump's actions as a 'new round of tariffs' after losing at the Supreme Court suggest a strongly negative tone towards the administration.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score -0.70 for article 383 · logged 2026-08-04
A group of 25 Democratic-led states has sued Donald Trump’s administration over its latest tariffs, claiming that the US president has exceeded his legal authority to implement the levies.
asserted
president → lead → levies
The lawsuit, filed in the US Court of International Trade on Monday, targets new double-digit tariffs imposed on 60 trading partners last month over allegations they were not doing enough to stop the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
asserted
they → file → labour
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These latest tariffs took effect just as the clock ran out on temporary tariffs that Trump had turned to after the Supreme Court struck down his flagship “liberation day” levies in a February ruling.
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Court → refuse → ruling
“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,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
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James → lose → tariffs
The states that sued over the new tariffs, including Oregon and New York, all have Democratic attorneys general or governors.
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that → sue → attorneys
In response, White House spokesman Kush Desai said the levies were an appropriate and legal response to unfair trade practices in other nations.
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levies → say → nations
“A foreign country’s failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor is unreasonable and burdens US commerce, including American workers, and must be addressed,” Desai said.
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Desai → impose → workers
Revive US manufacturing
Trump, who argues that high tariffs will revive US manufacturing, last year overturned decades of Washington policy that favoured lower tariffs and ever-freer trade.
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that → argue → tariffs
Invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), he imposed double-digit tariffs on imports from almost every country, saying the US’s longstanding trade deficit amounted to a national emergency.
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deficit → invoke → emergency
But the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA did not authorise tariffs.
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IEEPA → rule → tariffs
The decision forced the administration to establish a refund process for importers who had paid the tariffs.
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who → force → tariffs
Eager to make up the lost revenue, Trump turned to temporary 10 percent worldwide tariffs, but they expired at midnight on July 24.
The latest round of global tariffs was imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, meant to combat unfair or discriminatory economic practices by other nations.
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round → make → nations
The tariffs imposed in July affect more than 99 percent of US imports.
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tariffs → impose → imports
The states’ complaint, like two previous lawsuits filed by small businesses over the tariffs, argued that the new tariffs used “forced labor” as a pretext to re-impose the tariffs that had already been ruled illegal in court.
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that → file → court
They said that a sweeping tax on imports would do nothing to address the real problems of forced labour around the world.
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tax → say → world
