Navigation Pensacola stationery firm owner sues federal officials, challenging legality of China tariffs
The owner of a Pensacola stationery firm is asking a federal court to declare President Trump’s China tariffs an unconstitutional threat to small businesses like hers, which are now facing higher costs, raised prices or perhaps insolvency.
Emily Ley is the plaintiff in the lawsuit that was filed April 3 in the Northern District of Florida with the help of the Washington-based New Civil Liberties Alliance. The defendants, including Trump Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the acting commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Pete Flores, are accused of illegally imposing the tariff regime using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
“A tariff is a tax on Americans’ commerce with other countries,” the lawsuit states. “The Constitution assigns Congress exclusive power to impose tariffs and regulate foreign commerce. Presidents can impose tariffs only when Congress grants permission, which it has done in carefully drawn trade statutes.”
