Liberty Justice Center Sues Trump Over Tariffs Impacting Businesses

A lawsuit has been filed against President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs by the Liberty Justice Center, a libertarian public-interest firm, claiming that the president overstepped his authority by unilaterally imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The lawsuit, initiated on behalf of five small businesses affected by the tariffs, argues that no previous president has used this act to impose tariffs and that doing so undermines the principle of no taxation without representation. The plaintiffs contend that the trade deficits cited by Trump do not constitute an 'unusual and extraordinary threat,' which is required to invoke the IEEPA. Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, emphasized concerns over unchecked presidential power in economic matters. The case has been filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, and the plaintiffs are seeking to block the tariffs and affirm congressional authority over taxation. The suit reflects broader concerns about the implications of executive overreach in trade policy.