12 states sue Trump administration over tariffs

A coalition of 12 states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over what they called "illegal tariffs." Why it matters: The attorneys general are seeking a court order to block President Trump from being able to enact the tariffs, claiming that he lacked the authority to set them."Congress has not granted the president the authority to impose these tariffs and therefore the administration violated the law by imposing them through executive orders, social media posts, and agency orders," New York Attorney General Letitia James' office said in a statement.Catch up quick: Trump imposed the sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries that went into effect this month — before he instituted a 90-day pause to negotiate.He then raised tariffs on China to 125% for retaliating to his initial levies.Driving the news: Attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York Oregon and Vermont filed the lawsuit to make the tariffs block judicially enforceable. What they're saying: "President Trump's reckless tariffs have skyrocketed costs for consumers and unleashed economic chaos across the country," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Wednesday. "His tariffs are unlawful and if not stopped, they will lead to more inflation, unemployment, and economic damage," James wrote. Go deeper: Lessons from Trump's tariffs, Federal Reserve climbdown

A coalition of 12 states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over what they called "illegal tariffs." Why it matters: The attorneys general are seeking a court order to block President Trump from being able to enact the tariffs, claiming that he lacked the authority to set them."Congress has not granted the president the authority to impose these tariffs and therefore the administration violated the law by imposing them through executive orders, social media posts, and agency orders," New York Attorney General Letitia James' office said in a statement.

Catch up quick: Trump imposed the sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries that went into effect this month — before he instituted a 90-day pause to negotiate.He then raised tariffs on China to 125% for retaliating to his initial levies.Driving the news: Attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York Oregon and Vermont filed the lawsuit to make the tariffs block judicially enforceable.

What they're saying: "President Trump's reckless tariffs have skyrocketed costs for consumers and unleashed economic chaos across the country," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Wednesday. "His tariffs are unlawful and if not stopped, they will lead to more inflation, unemployment, and economic damage," James wrote.

Go deeper: Lessons from Trump's tariffs, Federal Reserve climbdown.