California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state will file a lawsuit against the Trump administration over tariffs against trading partners. “Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs. We’re taking him to court,” Newsom said. WATCH: Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs. We’re taking him to court. pic.twitter.com/LAm1NRx300 — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 16, 2025 Per NBC News: 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.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom suing Trump over ‘unlawful’ tariffs https://t.co/Y3tKE1YHDZ pic.twitter.com/xkdcLOSC6K — New York Post (@nypost) April 16, 2025 California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state is suing to halt President Donald Trump’s tariffs, citing harm to consumers and businesses in the world’s fifth-largest economy https://t.co/aftLDqecoC — Bloomberg (@business) April 16, 2025 From the Associated Press: Trump has offered many justifications for increasing tariffs, including that they are designed to spur U.S. manufacturing and stop the flow of illicit fentanyl into the country. California’s move follows rapidly changing tariff plans by the Trump administration. Newsom says the tariffs in effect have resulted in inflated costs and billions of dollars in damage in California, which has the largest economy among U.S. states and is a massive exporter. “President Trump’s unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy — driving up prices and threatening jobs,” he said in a statement. “We’re standing up for American families who can’t afford to let the chaos continue.” Newsom will discuss the lawsuit alongside California Attorney General Rob Bonta later Wednesday in the farm-rich Central Valley. California is a farming powerhouse, with many of the nuts, fruits and vegetables the state grows destined for other countries. The state will ask the court to immediately block the tariffs. The announcement comes days after Newsom asked countries to exempt California exports from retaliatory tariffs. No deals have yet been announced.