In the United States Court of International Trade, a legal challenge has been initiated against the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Canada. The lawsuit was filed by the non-profit organization Liberty Justice Center on behalf of Gellert Global Group, a U.S. food importer. It asserts that President Trump’s utilization of a trade statute from the Great Depression era exceeds his presidential authority.
President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on various Canadian goods using Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 following the breakdown of trade negotiations in August. Subsequently, the same statute was employed to prohibit the importation of additional Canadian products such as motorcycles, alcohol, and dairy items.
Sara Albrecht, the CEO of Liberty Justice Center, expressed in a press release that no president should possess the authority to revive an obsolete statute and utilize it to implement broad tariffs or import restrictions. The lawsuit filed seeks a ruling from the court declaring the tariffs illegal and demanding a refund for affected parties.