Attorney General Jay Jones announced on May 15 that a federal court has ruled in favor of Virginia and 23 other states, invalidating tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on products purchased by American consumers and businesses.
The decision is significant because it removes tariffs that officials say were raising prices and causing disruption for Virginians. The ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade granted summary judgment to the coalition of states, finding that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority.
“Today’s ruling is a major victory for Virginians. The Court made clear something that we have known all along – the Trump Administration’s tariffs were unlawful from the start,” Attorney General Jay Jones said. “In exceeding his authority, Donald Trump’s tariffs resulted in raising prices and disrupting our economy. Virginia joined this coalition to protect consumers, businesses, and the rule of law and I am proud that the Court has decisively struck these tariffs down.”
The lawsuit was led by attorneys general from Oregon, Arizona, California, New York, as well as others including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont Washington Wisconsin and governors from Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
For more than a year prior to this decision President Trump attempted to impose new tariffs using different legal justifications after previous efforts were ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. The latest attempt relied on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 but was found unauthorized because there was no “large and serious balance-of-payment deficit,” which is required under that law.
The Attorney General of Virginia provides legal counsel to state agencies while promoting public safety and defending constitutional rights; services also include civil rights enforcement programs as well as resources for identity theft protection according to the official website.
Looking ahead following this court decision Virginia officials say they will continue their efforts addressing consumer protection issues across the Commonwealth.
