Washington Attorney General Nick Brown (Source: WA Attorney Gen. Nick Brown IG)
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington joined more than 20 states this week in a lawsuit challenging a new round of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. State officials argue the administration lacks legal authority to impose the duties without congressional approval.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown joined the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade. It seeks to block tariffs the administration recently announced on most imported goods worldwide.
“Washington consumers already paid for the previous tariffs imposed by the President, and these latest illegal tariffs will continue to extract more of our hard-earned dollars for absolutely no reason,” Brown said. “Our state should not be subjected to this damaging economic whiplash.”
State officials say the move attempts to sidestep a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rejected an earlier legal justification for the tariffs.
Tariffs follow recent Supreme Court ruling
The dispute stems from the administration’s earlier attempt to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The law is typically used for sanctions during national emergencies.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled the statute does not authorize tariffs.
Following that decision, the administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Officials said the tariffs were meant to address U.S. trade deficits.
Attorneys general leading the lawsuit argue the law allows tariffs only in limited circumstances. Those include large balance-of-payments deficits, which they say do not apply in this case.
Brown said the tariffs inflicted chaos on the American economy and hardship on American families without legal authority.
“Initially, the President claimed that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) allowed him to impose tariffs of any amount, on any product, from any country, for any length of time,” Brown said. “Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court rejected that argument, concluding that the IEEPA tariffs were unlawful.”
Washington economy closely tied to trade
Washington officials say tariffs could have an outsized effect on the state economy because of its reliance on international commerce.
Roughly 40 percent of Washington jobs are connected to global trade. Key sectors include agriculture exports, aerospace manufacturing, and port shipping.
A previous analysis by the Washington Office of Financial Management estimated earlier tariffs could threaten about 30,000 jobs statewide.
Border region tied to cross-border trade
Tariffs can also affect communities near the U.S.–Canada border where cross-border commerce drives local economies.
Businesses in Whatcom County have reported reduced cross-border traffic and economic disruptions in recent years as trade tensions between the United States and Canada increased.
The lawsuit, State of Oregon v. Trump, was filed by a coalition led by attorneys general from Oregon, Arizona, California, and New York.
Washington joined more than a dozen additional states in the case.
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