The lawsuit marks the first time a state has filed a legal challenge to the tariffs and challenges the emergency powers Trump claimed as part of his authority to enact them.
The White House, which argues the tariffs are intended to address imbalances in international trade, dismissed the lawsuit and stated it will continue to address “this national emergency that is decimating American industries.”
Newsom argued that California has been “disproportionately affected” by the tariffs, which is why the state, which has already filed 15 lawsuits against Trump since January, will lead the fight against the tariffs, which currently stand at 10% for most countries and 145% for China.
The lawsuit challenges the invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enact the tariffs, arguing that the law has never been used for that purpose and that such powers lie with the United States Congress.