California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the state is suing the Trump administration over what he called “unlawful” tariffs imposed on international trading partners—tariffs he claims are disrupting the economy and hurting working families.
“President Trump’s unlawful tariffs are creating chaos for California families, businesses, and our economy—driving up prices and threatening jobs,” Newsom said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We’re standing up for American families who can’t afford to let this disruption continue.”
Taking to social media platform X, Newsom added, “Donald Trump does not have the authority to impose these reckless and damaging tariffs. America stands to lose too much. We’re taking him to court.”
The governor emphasized California’s central role in global trade, saying, “We are the largest manufacturing state in the country and one of the biggest global trading partners. No state will feel the impact of these unilateral tariffs more than California.”
He pointed out that approximately 40 percent of goods entering the U.S. come through California’s two major ports, with nearly half of those goods originating from China.
The lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, will argue that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—cited by Trump as the legal basis for the tariffs—does not authorize him to unilaterally impose them.
California, the most populous and economically powerful state in the U.S., is the first to launch legal action against the Trump administration on this issue. According to the Governor’s Office, the state is also the nation’s top importer, handling over $675 billion in two-way trade that supports millions of jobs.
Mexico, Canada, and China are California’s top three export markets, accounting for nearly $67 billion of the state’s $183 billion in exported goods in 2024.
