Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced on June 13 that he has joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s latest efforts to impose tariffs, which the group argues are illegal and lack congressional approval.
According to Torrez, “Once again, President Donald Trump is attempting to impose sweeping tariffs without the authority granted to him under the law. These actions create instability for American businesses and drive up costs for consumers. The Constitution is clear that the power to impose tariffs rests with Congress, not the President, and the Supreme Court of the United States has already rejected the administration’s misuse of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify these policies. This coalition will continue working to challenge unlawful actions that put the American economy at risk.”
The lawsuit challenges President Trump’s use of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after a recent Supreme Court decision found his previous reliance on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act was unlawful. The complaint argues that Section 122 does not authorize such broad tariff powers and that trade deficits do not meet its criteria for imposing tariffs. The case is titled State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al., and was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade.
A recent analysis by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that nearly 90 percent of tariff costs in 2025 would be paid by American consumers and businesses. The coalition contends this latest round of tariffs violates constitutional separation of powers and federal administrative law.
The New Mexico Attorney General serves as chief legal officer for New Mexico, provides services across all counties in the state, advances justice through civil litigation and criminal prosecutions, coordinates with local law enforcement agencies for public safety efforts, fosters trust via community outreach initiatives, and seeks to protect consumers while upholding rule of law according to the official website.
Additional details about Attorney General Torrez’s participation in this lawsuit can be found on the official roster page.
