California Sues Trump Over Tariffs

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued on Wednesday to block President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The lawsuit states that California’s economy is “directly harmed” and alleges Trump’s effort to institute the tariffs under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) is unconstitutional.

“President Trump’s new tariff regime has already had devastating impacts on the economy, creating chaos in the stock and bond markets, wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars in market capitalization in hours, chilling investment in the face of such consequential Presidential action with no notice or process, and threatening to push the country into recession,” the lawsuit states.

Trump announced April 9 that he would implement a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China, which received an increase of 125%, while leaving in place the baseline 10% tariff on other countries.

“Instead of focusing on California’s rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trump’s historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our country’s persistent goods trade deficits,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. “The entire Trump administration remains committed to addressing this national emergency that’s decimating America’s industries and leaving our workers behind with every tool at our disposal, from tariffs to negotiations.”

Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs.

We’re taking him to court. pic.twitter.com/LAm1NRx300

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 16, 2025

California Attorney General Rob Bonta wrote in a statement Wednesday that Trump’s “chaotic and haphazard implementation of tariffs is not only deeply troubling, it’s illegal.”

“Californians are bracing for fallout from the impact of the President’s choices — from farmers in the Central Valley, to small businesses in Sacramento, and worried families at the kitchen table — this game the President is playing has very real consequences for Californians across our state,” he said.

Newsom previously announced a plan to ask trade partners to exempt California-made products from retaliatory tariffs. (RELATED: Gavin Newsom’s Plan To Dodge Trump’s Tariffs May Run Into A Little Thing Called The Constitution, Legal Scholars Say)

The conservative New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) filed a lawsuit April 3 challenging Trump’s China tariffs on behalf of a Florida-based small business, similarly arguing the president misused IEEPA to impose them.

“Congress passed the IEEPA to counter external emergencies, not to grant presidents a blank check to write domestic economic policy,” they argued.

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