California Sues Trump Over Illegal Tariffs, Seeks Relief

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs, arguing that such actions exceed presidential authority and should be the responsibility of Congress. The suit contends that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), traditionally used to sanction threats from abroad, does not grant the president the power to set tariffs, especially in the absence of a genuine emergency. California leaders claim the tariffs have caused economic disruption, particularly harming the state's agriculture and technology sectors, and have led to increased prices and job insecurity for families and businesses. The White House has defended the tariffs as necessary to address trade deficits and boost domestic manufacturing, while criticizing California’s legal challenge as political grandstanding. The legal action reflects broader national debate over the scope of executive power in trade policy and the economic consequences of recent tariff hikes, including 145% levies on Chinese imports. Newsom emphasized that California, as one of the world’s largest economies, is disproportionately affected by these measures and urged Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over tariff policy.