Via press release
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 5, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear joined leaders from 23 other states in a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s latest round of illegal tariffs, which are causing increased prices for the American people and businesses. The case challenges President Donald Trump’s most recent efforts to increase tariffs worldwide without congressional approval and following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling.
“Americans and American businesses have paid 90% of President Trump’s tariffs, at a time when costs are already too high and families need help,” said Gov. Beshear. “The Supreme Court ruled his tariffs aren’t legal and he doesn’t have the authority to impose them. Now he’s trying to do a workaround to push his own agenda – we suggest he stop, and we’re fighting back.”
For more than a year, President Trump has inflicted chaos on the American economy and caused hardship to families who are already struggling with rising costs by imposing tariffs without the legal authority to do so. Initially, the President claimed that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) allowed him to impose tariffs of any amount, on any product, from any country, for any length of time. On Feb. 20, the Supreme Court rejected that argument, concluding that the IEEPA tariffs were unlawful.
Rather than accepting the ruling, President Trump is attempting a workaround through a separate law – Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 – which has never been used before and does not apply, to impose 15% tariffs on most products worldwide.
A recent analysis by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concluded that nearly 90% of the costs of tariffs in 2025 were paid by American consumers and businesses. By imposing another round of price increases on American consumers and businesses, President Trump is doubling down on failed economic policies.
“These illegal tariffs will be incredibly difficult and challenging for Kentuckians and our industries like bourbon, steel and more,” said the Governor. “Prices on groceries, housing and even gas, which is already spiking due to the war in Iran, will continue to increase. We should be helping American families and businesses, not hurting them.”
Today’s lawsuit challenges this latest round of tariffs. The complaint contends that these actions by President Trump and his administration violate the law, upend constitutional separation of powers, and violate the Administrative Procedure Act.
The case, State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al., was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade.
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. Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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