Democratic states sue Trump over forced labor tariffs

On August 4, 2026, twenty-five American states filed a lawsuit against the administration of Donald Trump, alleging that the recent tariffs violate the law. The initiative brings together governors and attorneys from Democratic parties who consider the measures arbitrary.

Democratic states sue the Trump administration

The court filing presented to the press describes the decision as "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law". Among the signatories is New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who characterized the tariffs as "nothing more than a tax on hardworking families". Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield added that the states "are paying the price for these unlawful tariffs, not foreign governments".

Tariffs imposed for alleged forced labor

The tariffs range from 10% to 12.5% and were triggered under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, which aims to punish countries that use forced labor. According to the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative, they cover 99.4% of American imports. The last use of Section 301 by Trump, in 2018, focused only on China and lasted eight months; the current investigation covers 60 trade partners and lasted only two months.

White House arguments

White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated that the United States is "using its lawful authority" to combat practices that harm American companies. Desai also said it is "unreasonable" for countries not to address the import of products made with forced labor.

Reaction of foreign governments and critics

The governments of Brazil and Japan declared the measures "unjustified". The spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the tariffs as an "excuse for political manipulation". Analysts question the ability of countries to prove they have met the requirements regarding forced labor.

Legal challenges and possible revisions

The litigation represents a "formidable challenge" to the tariffs, according to Alex Capri, a business professor at the National University of Singapore. Capri noted a lack of credible evidence and predicted "carve outs and walk-backs" that could lessen the tariffs' impact. Recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court have struck down several measures imposed by Trump, resulting in refunds of tens of billions of dollars to affected companies.

With information from BBC News.