Twenty-Five U.S. states filed a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration over new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from roughly 60 countries. The tariffs, which took effect in July under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, were imposed on major trading partners such as Japan, Brazil and Taiwan and cover 99.4% of U.S. imports, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The coalition of states, led by Democratic attorneys general, argued that the tariffs were arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law, citing the statute’s requirement that any trade restriction address proven instances of forced labour. The legal complaint said the administration could not use alleged forced‑labour concerns as a pretext for sweeping duties that exceed the scope authorized by Congress. White House spokesman Kush Desai responded that the United States was exercising its lawful authority to address practices that burden American businesses, adding that countries failing to curb imports made with forced labour were acting unreasonably. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield characterized the tariffs as a tax on working families and homegrown businesses, asserting that the measures were unlawful. Brazil and Japan’s governments described the measures as unjustified, while China’s foreign ministry said the tariffs served as an excuse for political manipulation. Analysts have questioned whether affected nations could substantiate forced‑labour claims required for the duties. The lawsuit represents the latest in a series of trade actions taken by the Trump administration since his return to office in January 2025. Earlier tariffs announced during “Liberation Day” in April 2024 were struck down by the Supreme Court, leading to a temporary 10% levy that expired in July. The administration is currently investigating 16 countries for possible manufacturing overcapacity, suggesting additional tariffs may be considered.