Governor Andy Beshear announced Thursday that Kentucky has joined 23 other states in a lawsuit challenging new tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, arguing the president lacks the legal authority to enact them without congressional approval.
The case, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, claims the administration is attempting to bypass a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that found Trump’s earlier tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act unlawful.
Beshear said the president is now trying to use Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — a provision that has never been used for such sweeping tariffs — to impose a 15% tax on most imported goods worldwide.
The governor argued the tariffs would increase costs for American consumers and businesses, noting research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicating nearly 90% of tariff costs in 2025 were paid domestically.
Beshear warned industries important to Kentucky, including bourbon and steel, could be negatively affected, while families may see higher prices for groceries, housing and fuel.
The lawsuit, led by the attorneys general of Oregon, Arizona, California and New York, argues the tariffs violate federal law, disrupt the constitutional separation of powers and break administrative procedures.
Officials say the legal challenge seeks to block the tariffs before they further impact state economies and consumers.
