In a courageous challenge to presidential power, five small U.S. businesses said President Donald Trump violated the Constitution by imposing tariffs on foreign imports.
See the tweet below.
As these companies fight back in court, they assert that this overstep infringes on constitutional limits and strains their operations.
Controversy erupted as Liberty Justice Center, a legal advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade against President Trump’s controversial new tariffs.
They argued that the President overstepped his constitutional authority since Congress is vested with the power to set tax rates.
The lawsuit represents businesses from diverse industries, including wine and spirits importation, sportfishing tackle production, ABS pipe manufacturing, educational electronic kits, and women’s cycling apparel.
VOS Selections, FishUSA, Genova Pipe, MicroKits LLC, and Terry Precision Cycling are some of the firms pressing this legal stand.
The stakes are high: Terry Precision Cycling, having faced $25,000 in tariffs, estimates that costs could soar to over $1.2 million by 2026.
The central argument revolves around the alleged misuse of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The law does not authorize the President to impose tariffs unilaterally, especially not because trade deficits are a national emergency.
Critics argued that tariffs even target countries without a trade deficit with the U.S., undermining their rationale.
Liberty Justice Center, integral to the Janus v AFSCME Supreme Court case, views this as another pivotal moment.
They advocate for these businesses and economic principles foundational to American democracy.
Moreover, the Trump administration now faces this lawsuit, and a similar one is being filed in Florida’s federal court, challenging tariffs on China.
U.S. businesses sue to block Trump tariffs, say trade deficits are not an emergency https://t.co/uUkvhwMNfx
— CNBC (@CNBC) April 14, 2025
The suit calls for the court to declare the tariffs illegal and reassert congressional authority over tariff setting.
The White House has yet to issue a response, leaving businesses and observers in suspense over potential outcomes and repercussions for the national economy.
As the case proceeds through the Court of International Trade, Americans should remember that tariffs were a primary source of federal revenue for much of the nation’s history.
Ultimately, President Trump’s policies are not radical but a return to fundamental American economic principles that prioritize the nation’s interests.
