- California AG Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the President’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs is both unlawful and unconstitutional.
- The complaint contends that IEEPA does not authorize the imposition of tariffs and was enacted to limit rather than expand presidential emergency powers. It further argues that the tariffs—imposed without congressional approval—violate the Constitution’s separation of powers by usurping authority expressly granted to Congress under Article I.
- The lawsuit challenges over a dozen executive orders imposing country-specific tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China, as well as broad “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly 90 countries. It alleges these actions have caused significant economic harm to California consumers, businesses, and the state’s budget by raising import costs and triggering retaliatory tariffs.
- The state seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to invalidate the tariff orders and prevent DHS and CBP from implementing or enforcing them.