On April 23, 2025, Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging President Trump's executive orders on tariffs. The lawsuit aims to block tariffs imposed by President Trump that increase prices and disrupt the American economy.
Attorney General Ellison highlighted his concerns, stating, “Donald Trump’s tariffs are unlawful and will cause severe harm to families across Minnesota, so I’m filing a lawsuit to block them. Trump and his billionaire friends can afford the price hike caused by the Trump tariffs, but there are plenty of working-class Minnesotans who can’t. I will not sit back and allow this president to break the law and take a sledgehammer to the global economy.”
The lawsuit targets executive orders that call for higher tariffs on various international products: a 145 percent tariff on most products from China, a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent tariffs on products from other countries. Additionally, there is a plan to raise tariffs on imports from 46 other trading partners by July 9.
Reports indicate that 95 percent of tariff costs are borne by Americans, with the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund projecting that this round of tariffs will increase inflation. Experts project an average yearly loss of approximately $3,800 for American families due to the tariffs.
According to Article I of the Constitution, only Congress has the authority to levy taxes and duties. The orders rely on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which applies to emergencies of unusual and extraordinary threats. The lawsuit asserts that IEEPA does not permit imposing tariffs, and no previous president has imposed tariffs through IEEPA before President Trump.
The case, State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al., was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade. The lawsuit is led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, with participation from Attorney General Ellison and attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.
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