by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

In a bold move, the State of California filed a lawsuit against the US Administration’s recent tariffs against some of the nation’s key trade partners.

The lawsuit, filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, seeks to challenge Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, claiming it was “unlawful.”

It says that while the act allows Trump to take strong measures in response to foreign threats, it does not allow him to adopt sweeping tariffs.

The lawsuit further claims that implementing such tariffs needs approval from the US Congress.

Governor Newsom said that the tariffs are creating inflated costs for California's people and could significantly damage the state’s economy.

In a Wednesday press conference, Newsom warned that “no state is poised to lose more than the state of California,” reports AFP.

California is considered the world's fifth-largest economy and home to one of the nation’s busiest maritime hubs.

The geographical location of the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports makes them two of the preferred gateways for goods arriving from China.

In response, White House spokesperson Kush Desai denounced the lawsuit and defended the tariff plan.

“The entire Trump administration remains committed to addressing this national emergency that’s decimating America’s industries and leaving our workers behind with every tool at our disposal, from tariffs to negotiations,” said Desai.

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