Five small companies from different US states, including The manufacturer of fishing equipment and the WiN importer, has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, in which they demand the annulment of his controversial customs tariffs, which they consider illegal.
Liberty Justice Center, a legal organization with a libertarian profile, applied to the US International Court on their behalf. According to lawyers, Trump crossed the constitutional rights, citing the Act on international extraordinary economic rights (IEEPA), thanks to which he introduced new duties.
“The president decided that he could unilaterally apply duties on imports, guided by pure whim, without any public consultations, Although economic effects can be catastrophic on a global scale, “it was written in the lawsuit.” This court should consider this unprecedented appropriation of power as illegal ” – he added.
Among the leveling, there was an importer of WIN from New York, an online fishing shop, a manufacturer of toy sets, a producer of Utah fittings and a cycling brand for Vermont women. They all operate on international markets – in a total of 38 countries.
The lawsuit was directed not only against Trump, but also towards the secretary of trade Howard Lutnicka, to the commissioner of the customs service Peter R. Flores and the Jamieson Greer trade representative.
This is the third known court case, in which Trump's tariffs are trying to block and the widest of the previous ones. Earlier, the lawsuit filed a tribe of black feet in connection with the customs duties on Canada, as well as a small company from Florida run by a woman who questioned duties on products from China, using similar constitutional arguments.
Trump announced new tariffs on April 2: a 10 % tax on all goods imported to the USA, and for several dozen countries, rates reaching even over 30 percent. The president described them as “mutual” and explained that their amount was calculated, sharing the US commercial deficit with a given country in 2024 by the value of total imports from this country.
– Trump's die -hard opponents will always undermine his actions. The President of Broni Main Street, equalizing opportunities for entrepreneurs and employees in the face of the national crisis, which is a chronic commercial deficit, 'said Harrison Fields, a special president's assistant and the main deputy spokesperson.
Although after a violent sale of bonds and declines on the Stock Exchange, Trump suspended duties on 75 trading partners for 90 days, the 10 % general duty is still in force. In response to US policy, China raised duties to 145 percent. for products from American factories.
In the justification of almost all tariffs, Trump referred to the Act of IEEP from the 70s, originally used to impose economic sanctions during extraordinary threats. The recipe allows the president to act without the consent of the Congress. However, no Trump's predecessor used this law to impose duties.
– “emergency” due to the trade deficit? This is not an extraordinary situation – says Jeffrey Schwab, Liberty Justice Center's main legal advisor. – We have had a deficit for five decades, so it cannot be considered something unusual – he adds.
Schwab emphasizes that even if the use of IEEPA is considered legal, the Congress has no right to completely transfer the competence to the President to apply tariffs. Such a delegation would be incompatible with the constitutional principle of non -taxable power.
In the coming days, Liberty Justice Center will apply for temporary suspension of duties until the case is resolved.
– It was exactly before such an abuse of power we defended ourselves during the war for independence – says Schwab. – Even if the Congress can to some extent to the President rights, his interpretation of the IEEPA act is so wide that it would give him almost unlimited power in determining the tariffs and their height – he adds.
