California sues the Trump administration over the president’s sweeping tariffs

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta said Wednesday they are suing the Trump administration in federal court over President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues that President Donald Trump doesn’t have the presidential authority to unilaterally impose tariffs using the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, according to Newsom’s office.

The state is asking that the court declare the tariffs void and block their implementation, according to the governor’s office.

Announcing the lawsuit on his latest podcast episode, the Democratic governor said Trump doesn’t have “the unilateral authority to impose one of the largest tax increases in U.S. history,” emphasizing the impact of tariffs in potentially leading to higher prices.

Newsom continued, “Impacts of these tariffs are disproportionately being felt here in California, the No. 1 manufacturing state in America, a state that will be significantly impacted by this unilateral decision by the president of the United States.”

Newsom is a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender and frequent Trump critic. On his recently launched podcast, he has hosted some conservatives, such as Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon, as guests, drawing criticisms from fellow Democrats after seeming to agree with them on some issues, including the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Bonta said in a statement Wednesday that the president’s tariffs are “not only deeply troubling, it’s illegal.”

“Californians are bracing for fallout from the impact of the President’s choices — from farmers in the Central Valley, to small businesses in Sacramento, and worried families at the kitchen table — this game the President is playing has very real consequences for Californians across our state,” he said. “I am proud to go to bat alongside Governor Newsom to fight for California’s vibrant economy, businesses, and residents.”

The lawsuit argues that Trump can’t use the International Economic Emergency Powers Act to unilaterally impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China or create an across-the-board 10% tariff, the governor’s office said.

Trump has imposed tariffs on most foreign countries, with China facing the largest amount, 145%, and other nations facing 10% after the president backed off last week from implementing higher duties for 90 days.

Trump touted the tariffs while speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, saying, “We’re making tremendous amounts of money, taking in billions and billions, hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs from other countries that, for many, many decades, just ripped off the United States. And it’s time that we not allow that to happen.”

The White House didn’t immediately return a respond to NBC News’ request Wednesday for comment on the state’s lawsuit.