Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 12 other attorneys general, has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the implementation of tariffs imposed by President Trump's administration. The motion was filed in a coalition lawsuit aiming to halt these tariffs, which were enacted under four executive orders without congressional approval.
Raoul emphasized the economic impact on states that depend heavily on international trade. "Our states’ economies rely on international trade, particularly in Illinois, where agriculture is a top industry. The administration’s arbitrary tariffs will impose higher prices on goods our producers and residents rely on and result in unnecessary economic chaos," he stated. He further expressed his commitment to working with colleagues to protect Americans from what he termed as unlawful tariffs.
The coalition's motion requests the U.S. Court of International Trade to order federal agencies to cease collecting the tariffs, which include a 145% tariff on most products from China, 25% on products from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on products from other countries. It also seeks to prevent an increase in tariffs planned for July 9 affecting imports from 56 additional trading partners.
An economic analysis included in the motion suggests that state and local governments within the coalition could incur at least $3.4 billion annually due to these tariffs. A Federal Reserve report cited by the states indicates businesses expect increased input costs because of the tariffs, with many planning to pass these costs onto consumers.
The attorneys general argue that only Congress has the power to levy taxes and duties on imports. They contend that while the executive orders cite authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), this law does not permit such tariff impositions unless there is an "unusual and extraordinary threat" from abroad—a condition they claim is not met here. The IEEPA was enacted in 1977, but no previous president had used it for imposing tariffs until now.
Attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Vermont have joined Attorney General Raoul in this legal action.