Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of 24 states, asked the U.S. Court of International Trade on Mar. 13 to block President Trump’s latest attempt to impose tariffs on products purchased by American consumers and businesses.
The motion follows a lawsuit filed earlier this month challenging the legality of the new tariffs. The issue is significant because it could affect prices for consumers and costs for state governments across the country.
“Despite our clear and decisive Supreme Court win in our first illegal tariffs lawsuit, President Trump has doubled down on his failed economic policies by imposing another round of price increases on Americans,” Raoul said. “Since the Trade Act of 1974 was enacted, no prior president has attempted to use the extraordinary power of Section 122 to unilaterally impose sweeping, arbitrary tariffs. I will continue to fight to prevent hardworking Americans from footing the bill for the Trump administration’s unlawful tariffs.”
Raoul and other attorneys general argue that only Congress has authority over taxes such as tariffs, and that Section 122 of the Trade Act allows such measures only in cases of large balance-of-payment deficits—not trade deficits. Economic analysis submitted in court shows that state governments in the plaintiff states could pay at least $748 million more per year due to these new tariffs. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that nearly 90% of last year’s tariff costs were paid by American consumers and businesses.
The Illinois Attorney General has advocated for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants, and seniors according to its official website. The office handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to its official website, aims to protect consumers and promote safer communities according to its official website, extends advocacy efforts statewide according to its official website, partners with law enforcement agencies according to its official website, and offers services such as complaint filing for consumer fraud and civil rights issues according to its official website.
Joining Raoul in filing the motion are attorneys general from several other states as well as governors from Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Today’s motion asks federal agencies be ordered not to collect these new tariffs while legal proceedings continue.