AsianFin -- A coalition of twelve U.S. states filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration, accusing it of illegally imposing tariffs that amount to tax hikes on Americans.

The suit challenges the administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify the tariffs. It argues that the law was never intended to authorize such trade measures and that former President Donald Trump overstepped his authority.

“In nearly fifty years since IEEPA was passed, no other president has used it to impose tariffs,” the lawsuit states, adding that Congress did not design the act for trade restrictions.

The legal challenge seeks to block the tariffs and limit the executive branch’s use of emergency powers for trade actions.

In response, White House spokesperson Kush Desai dismissed the lawsuit as a “witch hunt” and defended the administration’s approach. “The Trump Administration remains committed to using its full legal authority to confront the national emergencies facing our country—whether it’s illegal migration, fentanyl, or the ballooning trade deficit,” Desai said.