Copyright hoodline
As the Golden State takes on the Trump administration's controversial tariffs, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta are urging the Supreme Court to take a definitive stand. In an amicus brief they have filed, the Newsom administration is directly challenging the tariffs imposed by President Trump, arguing that they are not only damaging to the state's economy but also lack la egal foundation. The brief opposes tariffs instated through an emergency declaration by Trump, which allegedly skirted congressional approval. According to a statement on the Governor's official website, California's leadership believes that no such emergency justifying these tariffs exists, and that the law invoked does not permit imposing tariffs anyhow. This legal challenge comes amid estimations that California's economy might suffer a loss of $25 billion, and potentially put more than 64,000 jobs at risk due to the "illegal tariffs." The amicus brief filed by Newsom and Bonta asserts the tariffs have brought about "mass uncertainty" and have undermined a previously robust economic landscape. The Newsom administration's brief references the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977, arguing that Trump's use of this act to impose tariffs oversteps the authority granted to the presidency. "President Trump’s illegal tariffs impact businesses, consumers, and states across the nation — and they are illegal. Any attempt by the Trump Administration to interpret IEEPA as giving it the power to impose tariffs is a feat of mental gymnastics," Attorney General Rob Bonta stated. Their argument is that historically, IEEPA has never been used to justify tariffs, as the act does not explicitly confer the power to tax or tariff. Backing their stance, Newsom and Bonta cited a historical figure known for conservative economic principles. "Don’t believe us? Hear it from President Ronald Reagan instead: 'High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. The result is more and more tariffs, higher and higher trade barriers, and less and less competition.'" Here, the current California administration is leveraging the words of a Republican stalwart to underscore the anticipated negative consequences of Trump's tariff strategy. The Supreme Court case, Learning Resources v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, is set to be heard on November 5, 2025. California's legal initiative is not isolated, as other states and entities have filed lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's tariff moves. Newsom and Bonta have put forth a broader argument in support of American families, asserting that Trump’s authority to unilaterally impose tariffs is unsubstantiated, creating immediate harm to the state, acknowledged as the nation's leader in manufacturing and agriculture. With the oral argument date approaching, all eyes are now on how the Supreme Court will navigate the intersection of executive power and economic policy.
