A non-profit U.S. law firm announced on Monday that, on behalf of several companies, it has filed a new lawsuit against the 15% customs tariff that the Trump administration plans to impose after the Supreme Court is expected to strike down much of its tariff policy. The Liberty Justice Center, which played a key role in getting the nation's highest court to overturn the so-called 'reciprocal tariffs' by filing a lawsuit on behalf of five small businesses, has filed another complaint about the new levies with the U.S. Court of International Trade on behalf of a different group of companies. The spice and e-commerce company Burlap & Barrel is leading the lawsuit, along with toy company Basic Fun!, and both have previously litigated the tariff issue in various courts. The lawsuit comes on the heels of a similar one filed last week by a group of Democratic state attorneys general. The previous tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump were based on a 1977 emergency powers law, which the Supreme Court ruled did not support the imposition of the tariffs. The new taxes, which the president imposed in retaliation for the court's decision, are being implemented under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. While the statute states that tariffs cannot be imposed without limit and without Congressional approval, Trump has already warned that he does not intend to seek any authorization from the Legislature. Beyond this new legal battle over the legality of the 15% general tariff, courts are also facing another delicate issue related to Trump's economic policy. The fight for refunds on the $166 billion in tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down continues and poses a threat to the U.S. Treasury. Numerous companies affected by the tariffs have joined together to seek compensation for damages, which would cost the Trump administration millions of dollars.
