Small businesses sue Trump administration over new tariffs
Two small U.S. businesses have filed lawsuits challenging President Trump’s latest round of global tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, arguing the administration acted arbitrarily without country-specific findings. The suits, brought by the Liberty Justice Center on behalf of Burlap & Barrel and Collective Horology, seek to halt enforcement of the new duties and obtain refunds for duties already collected. The tariffs, set at 10% to 12.5% on goods from roughly 60 to 80 economies, followed the expiration of a temporary surcharge and are defended as a response to alleged forced-labor practices. The lawsuits were filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, contending the administration cannot move a global tariff program from one statute to another without proper Congressional boundaries. Critics contend the findings and remedial justification for sweeping tariffs are insufficient, while supporters point to ongoing investigations into forced labor as the basis for the measures. These challenges mirror previous litigation surrounding IEEPA and Section 301 authorities and highlight ongoing disputes over the scope and legality of President Trump’s tariff policies.



