California’s Newsom Sues Trump, Challenges Power on Trade Tariffs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit to block President Trump’s sweeping tariffs, calling them unlawful and economically damaging. The suit argues Trump exceeded his authority by bypassing Congress using emergency powers. California, a major exporter, claims the tariffs are inflating prices and harming jobs statewide.
California Sues Trump Over Sweeping Tariffs: Quick Looks
- Gov. Gavin Newsom announces legal action against President Trump’s tariffs
- Lawsuit argues Trump misused emergency powers under the IEEPA
- California claims billions in economic losses due to trade war
- Suit to be filed in Northern District of California
- Newsom says tariffs have hurt jobs, raised prices
- Legal challenge cites lack of congressional approval for tariffs
- California exports hit hard by retaliatory foreign tariffs
- Newsom and AG Rob Bonta to hold press event in Central Valley
California’s Newsom Sues Trump, Challenges Power on Trade Tariffs
Deep Look
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is taking legal action to stop what Governor Gavin Newsom calls an unlawful and economically destructive trade policy enacted by President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Newsom announced that the state will file a federal lawsuit to block Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports, including those from Mexico, Canada, and China.
At the heart of the lawsuit is Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law originally intended for responding to foreign threats—not trade disputes. The IEEPA allows a president to freeze financial transactions and impose restrictions during national emergencies, but California officials argue it does not grant the authority to levy broad tariffs, especially without congressional approval.
The legal complaint will be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. According to Newsom’s office, the state will ask for an immediate injunction to halt enforcement of the tariffs, citing the urgent economic harm they are causing to businesses and residents.
“President Trump’s unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy,” Newsom said in a statement.
“We’re standing up for American families who can’t afford to let the chaos continue.”
California Hit Hard by Trade War
As the largest state economy in the U.S. and a global agricultural hub, California has felt the brunt of the tariff fallout. The Trump administration’s erratic trade decisions have driven up prices, disrupted supply chains, and triggered foreign retaliatory tariffs on goods exported from California’s massive farming industry.
From almonds and pistachios to grapes and citrus, many of the state’s top crops are exported globally — and now face higher barriers and declining demand abroad due to tariff retaliation. Newsom recently asked several countries to exclude California products from their countermeasures, but no such exemptions have been granted to date.
The governor is expected to detail the lawsuit later Wednesday during a press conference in the Central Valley, California’s agricultural heartland, alongside Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Trump’s Justification Under Scrutiny
President Trump has defended the tariffs, claiming they will revitalize American manufacturing and curb the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl. However, legal experts and trade analysts question whether his administration has overstepped its authority by invoking emergency powers without a clear and direct threat to national security.
The current tariffs include:
- 10% base tariff on most imported goods
- 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and autos
- Up to 145% tariffs on select Chinese products
California’s legal challenge could set the stage for a larger confrontation over presidential trade authority and the balance of power between the executive branch and Congress.
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