Attorney General Ellison wins lawsuit against Trump Administration’s illegal tariffs

Court of International Trade rules in favor of 24 states, invalidating tariffs that are increasing prices and inflicting chaos on the American economy

May 7, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Attorney General Ellison today secured an order invalidating President Trump’s latest efforts to impose illegal tariffs on products purchased by American consumers and businesses. A federal court granted summary judgment to a coalition of 24 states, striking down those tariffs. 

"Once again, a court has struck down Donald Trump’s illegal tariffs, which are hitting the American people squarely in the pocketbook,” said Attorney General Ellison. “If this feels like déjà vu, that’s because my fellow attorneys general and I already sued Trump over these unlawful tariffs and won. Instead of obeying the court and following the law, Trump just found a new excuse to reimpose the same illegal tariffs that are driving up costs for farmers, small businesses, and folks across Minnesota. I’m pleased to have won this fight yet again, though it is deeply disturbing that Trump and his regime cannot simply obey the law.”

For more than a year, President Trump has unlawfully attempted to impose tariffs on essential goods purchased by American consumers and businesses. Initially, the President invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—but the Supreme Court ruled those tariffs were unlawful. The President then attempted to use a different law that has never been used before—Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974—and imposed 10 percent tariffs on most products worldwide, supposedly in response to trade deficits. 

Today, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that those tariffs are illegal, too. Section 122 allows tariffs only when there are “large and serious balance-of-payment deficits.” But no such thing exists—a trade deficit is not a balance-of-payment deficit. As the court ruled, the President’s tariffs proclamation “is invalid, and the tariffs imposed on Plaintiffs are unauthorized by law.” 

The case is led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Also joining the lawsuit, in addition to Attorney General Ellison, are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.