U.S. businesses sue to block Trump tariffs, say trade deficits are not an emergency

[Native]

Source: CNBC

Key Points
*A group of small businesses sued President Donald Trump, seeking to block new tariffs that he has imposed on foreign imports in recent weeks.
*The lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade alleges that Trump has illegally usurped Congress’ power to levy tariffs.
*The suit said that Trump’s claim that trade deficits with other countries constitute an emergency is baseless.

A group of five small businesses on Monday sued President Donald Trump, seeking to block new tariffs that he has imposed on foreign imports in recent weeks.

The lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade alleges that Trump has illegally usurped Congress’ power to levy tariffs by claiming that trade deficits with other countries constitute an emergency.

“Congress has not delegated any such power,” the suit says. “The statute the President
invokes — the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (‘IEEPA’) — does not authorize the President to unilaterally issue across-the-board worldwide tariffs.”

The Liberty Justice Center, which is representing the owner-operated companies, said Trump’s so-called Liberation Day tariffs of at least 10% on import from most countries, and higher rates for scores of other nations, are devastating small businesses across the country.”

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/14/us-businesses-sue-to-block-trump-tariffs-say-trade-deficits-are-not-an-emergency.html

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The suit also says that Trump's claimed emergency is a figment of his own imagination and an unprecedented, illegal power grab. The article states that this is breaking news and to refresh for updates.

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Here is info on the case

Link to Liberty Justice Center PRESS RELEASE - Liberty Justice Center Files Lawsuit Challenging Executive Authority to Unilaterally Impose “Liberation Day” Tariffs

Link to Liberty Justice Center FILINGS PAGE - V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump

Link to SUIT (PDF) - https://libertyjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/002-VOS-Selections-v.-Trump-Compl-2025.04.14-1.pdf

[Martin68]

2. This is a totally legitimate line of attack. The emergency powers thing is clearly bogus, and trade surpluses and

deficits are an entirely normal consequences of the reality of trade. US companies need foreign products to manufacture products in the US, including raw materials that the US doesn't actually have. The most significant consequence of provoking a trade war with China is that they have a lock on certain vital raw materials that US companies need to survive. Tariffs won't solve that problem. They will just exacerbate it. Trump is insanely ignorant of economics and business. His supporters bought his scam that he is a business genius, and believe he knows what he is doing. He not only doesn't know what he is doing, he is doing real damage to the US economy in the process.

[Bayard]

3. Oh.....It would be so wonderful if a group of small businesses pushed him back on his ass