A group of US states filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration over its attempt to use Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as a new legal basis for maintaining its global tariff policy, Bloomberg reported.
The action was filed on Monday before the US Court of International Trade in Manhattan and adds to similar lawsuits brought by small businesses. The plaintiffs argue that the administration is unlawfully using Section 301 to replace earlier tariffs that were either struck down by the Supreme Court or had already expired.
The litigation opens a new legal front between the administration, the states and business groups challenging the legal grounds used to impose the tariffs.
The administration is still dealing with the consequences of the tariffs originally imposed in April 2025. After the Supreme Court ruled them illegal, customs authorities received refund claims from thousands of companies that had paid around US$166 billion in duties.
