Oregon, joined by a multi-state coalition, is challenging the federal government's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, arguing they exceed presidential authority and unfairly raise costs for Americans. The Supreme Court will decide the case, which could have major implications for executive power and international trade policy, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
Attorney General Rayfield said, "Everyone has had that moment lately – you walk into the grocery store, grab the same cart of groceries you always do, and somehow the bill is twenty bucks higher." The legal dispute shows how tariffs are increasing the financial burden on the working class, especially as the holiday season approaches, as reported by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Oregon challenged presidential tariffs in court, starting in April 2025 in the U.S. Court of International Trade, which ruled in May that the tariffs exceeded the President's authority. The federal government’s appeal was rejected by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Supreme Court has agreed to review the case. Economists say the tariffs could affect Oregon’s export industries, including hazelnuts and potatoes. Gutman, representing the state, said, "Working families are facing an affordability crisis across our nation, and the president has abused an emergency power." The Supreme Court’s decision could affect trade policy and U.S. businesses, as stated by the Oregon Department of Justice.
