Twenty-five states sue to block Trump administration’s latest tariffs

Twenty-five states filed a lawsuit on August 3, 2026, challenging the Trump administration’s latest tariffs and asking the U.S. Court of International Trade to block the duties. The states argue that the administration improperly relied on Section 301 of the Trade Act and did not satisfy the law’s country-specific requirements.

The case places new tariffs imposed by the administration under review and could determine whether the duties remain in effect. It could also affect whether importers may seek refunds or other relief from costs associated with the tariffs.

What the states are challenging

In the lawsuit, the states describe the new tariffs as an attempt to replace earlier duties that had faced legal setbacks, according to the Associated Press. Their filing argues that the administration failed to establish the required connection between the conduct of each targeted economy and the tariff remedy imposed in response.

That argument focuses on Section 301, a provision of the Trade Act invoked by the administration to justify the measures. The states contend that using the statute requires findings tied to the specific country or economy affected by the tariff, rather than a broader rationale that does not establish that connection.

The states’ position is an allegation in ongoing litigation, not a judicial finding. The court has not, based on the approved reporting, ruled that the tariffs are invalid.

The administration’s separate Brazil action

The lawsuit follows a July 10 action by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. USTR announced a final Section 301 action imposing a 25% tariff on certain Brazilian goods.

USTR said the Brazil action followed public hearings, more than 360 comments and negotiations with Brazil. That administrative process is part of the background to the legal dispute, but the approved sources do not establish how the court will evaluate the action or whether the challenged tariffs will ultimately be upheld.

The case concerns federal trade authority exercised by the administration of President Donald Trump. The plaintiffs are state governments, while the challenged duties apply to imports entering the United States.

Why the case matters for importers

Tariffs are duties applied to goods entering the country. The lawsuit could affect businesses that import products covered by the challenged measures, including whether those duties can continue to be collected and whether importers have a path to seek refunds or other relief.

The dispute may also shape the administration’s ability to use Section 301 for similar tariff actions. If the court requires a more specific connection between a targeted economy’s conduct and the remedy, that could limit how the authority is used in future cases. The approved sources do not provide a ruling or a separate economic estimate of how the litigation would affect consumer prices.

For now, the filing does not itself cancel the tariffs. Importers and other businesses remain affected by the legal uncertainty while the case proceeds in the Court of International Trade.

What happens next

The next known step is continued litigation in the U.S. Court of International Trade. The approved reporting does not establish whether the court has ruled on emergency relief, so the immediate status of the duties remains uncertain.

The court will ultimately have to address the states’ challenge to the administration’s use of Section 301 and its country-specific findings. Until a ruling is issued, the states’ claims remain disputed and the tariffs should not be described as invalid.