A legal advocacy group has filed a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs, claiming he exceeded his constitutional authority. The Liberty Justice Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit, brought the case to the U.S. Court of International Trade on behalf of five small businesses that import products from countries hit by the tariffs. These include importers of wine, educational kits, and musical instruments.
The lawsuit targets Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs, as well as earlier tariffs on Chinese imports. The group argues the president violated the Constitution, which grants Congress—not the president—the power to impose taxes and tariffs. Liberty Justice Center senior counsel Jeffrey Schwab stated, “No one person should have the power to impose taxes with such vast global economic consequences.”
The Trump administration defended its decision, with White House spokesman Harrison Fields claiming the tariffs protect American workers and address trade imbalances, particularly with China. Trump’s tariffs include a 10% levy on imports from all countries and higher duties on nations with perceived unfair trade barriers, though many were temporarily suspended for 90 days.
The lawsuit contends that Trump improperly used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants presidential powers during extraordinary threats, to justify the tariffs. According to the Liberty Justice Center, no previous president has used the IEEPA to impose trade tariffs, setting a potentially dangerous precedent.
A similar legal challenge is already underway in Florida federal court. The plaintiffs are seeking to have the tariffs overturned and a declaration that Trump lacked the authority to impose them.
The case highlights rising tensions between executive authority and trade law, as U.S. courts weigh the legality of the president’s expansive use of emergency powers in global commerce.