Attorney General Brown Secures Court Ruling Against Trump Administration’s Unlawful Tariffs

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown secured an order invalidating President Trump’s latest efforts to impose unlawful tariffs on products purchased by American consumers and businesses. A federal court granted summary judgment in a case brought by a coalition of 24 states and held that those tariffs are not authorized by law. Although the court’s order does not directly provide relief to Maryland or its residents, it opens the door to future challenges to these unlawful tariffs.
“Time and again, courts are making clear that the Trump Administration cannot impose unlawful and costly tariffs on Marylanders,” said Attorney General Brown. “This ruling is another important step toward ensuring that American families are not left paying more for groceries, household goods, and everyday essentials because of the Trump Administration’s lawless trade policies. We will continue fighting in court to hold this Administration accountable to the law.”
For more than a year, President Trump has unlawfully attempted to impose tariffs on essential goods purchased by American consumers and businesses. Initially, the President invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, but the Supreme Court ruled those tariffs were unlawful. The President then attempted to use a different law that has never been used before –Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 – and imposed 10 percent tariffs on most products worldwide, supposedly in response to trade deficits.

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that those tariffs are unlawful, too. Section 122 allows tariffs only when there are “large and serious balance-of-payment deficits.” But no such thing exists – a trade deficit is not a balance-of-payment deficit. As the court ruled, the President’s tariffs proclamation “is invalid.”

Joining Attorney General Brown in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.