Image source, AFP via Getty Images By Osmond Chia Business reporter Published 4 August 2026, 03:00 BST Updated 7 minutes ago Twenty five US states sued the administration of US President Donald Trump on Monday over new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners. The tariffs came into effect in July, targeting countries including the UK, China as well as the European Union, over Washington's contention that they have failed to properly tackle forced labour. In a legal document seen by the BBC, the coalition of Democratic states said the decision was "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law." In response, White House spokesman Kush Desai said: "The US is using its lawful authority" to address practices that burden American businesses. Desai added that any foreign country's failing to deal with the importation of goods produced with forced labour was "unreasonable" and must be addressed. The duties cover 99.4% of US imports, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative. "President Trump's illegal tariffs are nothing more than a tax on hardworking families," said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. "Despite losing every step of the way, Trump is trying yet again to inflict more chaos on working families and homegrown Oregon businesses," Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. "We're all paying the price for these unlawful tariffs, not foreign governments," he added. Several of the affected trading partners have expressed disappointment over the new tariffs, with Brazil and Japan's governments separately calling the measures "unjustified". China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the tariffs as an "excuse for political manipulation". Washington and Beijing have been locked in a tit-for-tat tariffs war which is currently on hold. Some analysts have also questioned how countries would be able to show that they had properly addressed the forced labour claims. It marks the latest move in a slew of trade policies unveiled by Trump since he returned to office in January 2025. Wide-ranging duties Trump imposed on global trading partners in his so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs in April last year were struck down by the US Supreme Court . "The Supreme Court has made it clear that this administration cannot ignore the law to impose sweeping tariffs," Hochul said. The court's decision prompted tens of billions of dollars in refunds to companies that had paid the levies. The president has long argued that tariffs protect American workers and boost the US economy. The tariffs that were struck down were replaced by a temporary 10% levy on all global imports. Those tariffs expired in July. More tariffs could also be on the horizon as the US is currently investigating 16 countries over claims of manufacturing overcapacity. Related topics International Business Donald Trump Global trade More on this story Faisal Islam: The UK's Trump trade deal no longer looks world-beating Published 24 July What tariffs has Trump introduced and why? Published 24 July
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