On April 23, 2025, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes led a coalition of 12 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade for its illegal and unconstitutional imposition of tariffs on virtually all goods imported into the United States. One economic analysis suggested that the average household will pay an additional $3,800 annually due to Trump’s tariffs.   

The attorneys general argued that the Constitution grants the power to impose tariffs to Congress, not to the executive branch. The filing further argued that statutory justification President Trump had cited to support his actions, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, does not apply under current circumstances and also does not authorize the president to impose tariffs.   

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade agreed with the arguments advanced by the attorneys general and on May 28, 2025, granted summary judgment to the plaintiff states with orders to issue a permanent injunction to block the tariffs. On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling, saying that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. 

On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the lower courts’ rulings that the president lacks the authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA.  

The Trump Administration’s illegal and chaotic tariff regime has come to an end. Today, the highest court in the country has agreed with arguments put forth by California, our sister states, and the dedicated businesses that decided to fight for their livelihoods and for what was right. While this is great news, we must not forget the chaos that sent businesses, consumers, and global economies reeling. At a time when more and more families are struggling with affordability and having trouble paying for the basics — their utilities, groceries, gas — this Administration seems intent on making it more expensive for Californians and Americans to live. California celebrates today’s tremendous win and remains committed to tackling Donald Trump’s agenda to fuel the unaffordability crisis.Attorney General Rob Bonta