US states sue to block Trump tariffs impacting dozens of countries - BBC News

The duties were imposed over claims that 60 US trading partners have failed to tackle forced labour.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesByOsmond ChiaBusiness reporterPublished4 August 2026, 03:00 BSTUpdated 5 hours agoTwenty-five states sued President Donald Trump's administration on Monday over a wave of tariffs against dozens of countries.

The US says the tariffs, which range between 10% and 12.5%, were imposed due to trading partners - including the UK, China and the European Union - failing to properly tackle forced labour.

In a legal document seen by the BBC, the coalition of Democratic states said the decision was "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law".

In response, White House spokesman Kush Desai said the US was "using its lawful authority" to address practices that burden American businesses.

Desai added that any foreign countries failing to deal with the importation of goods produced with forced labour was "unreasonable" and must be addressed.