Attorney General Ellison sues Trump Administration to stop illegal tariffs

Joins lawsuit filed by 12 attorneys general to block illegal tariffs that are increasing prices and inflicting chaos on the American economy

April 23, 2025 (SAINT PAUL)  – Today, Attorney General Ellison and a coalition of other attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block President Trump’s illegal tariffs. The case challenges four of President Trump’s executive orders that claim the power to increase tariffs worldwide without congressional action.

“Donald Trump’s tariffs are unlawful and will cause severe harm to families across Minnesota, so I’m filing a lawsuit to block them,” said Attorney General Ellison. “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 challenges President Trump’s executive orders calling for higher tariffs on most products worldwide. These tariffs impose a 145 percent tariff on most products from China, a 25 percent tariff on most products from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent tariffs on most products from the rest of the world. It also challenges President Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on imports from 46 other trading partners on July 9.

Studies of the tariffs President Trump issued in his first term show that 95 percent of the cost of tariffs are paid by Americans. The Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund project that this round of tariffs will cause inflation.

Experts estimate that the rise in prices due to recent tariffs will result in a yearly loss of roughly $3,800 for the average American family.

Under Article I of the Constitution, only Congress has the “Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises.” The executive orders cite the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but that law applies only when an emergency presents “unusual and extraordinary threat” from abroad and does not give the President the power to impose tariffs. Congress enacted IEEPA in 1977. No President had imposed tariffs based on IEEPA until President Trump did so this year.

The case is entitled State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al. and 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. Joining Attorney General Ellison in signing onto the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Vermont.