Overview
- Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed an amicus brief arguing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs.
- California’s brief notes IEEPA contains no references to tariffs or duties and says no president has previously used the statute to levy tariffs.
- The state cites economic harm from the tariff regime introduced since February 2025, estimating a $25 billion hit and more than 64,000 jobs at risk in California.
- The Supreme Court will hear Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump, consolidated with a related case, on Nov. 5 to decide whether the IEEPA-based tariffs are lawful.
- California’s separate lawsuit challenging the tariffs is being held in abeyance in the Ninth Circuit, and other states and entities have filed related suits and briefs in multiple federal courts.