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The states argue the new duties merely replace tariffs that were struck down by the Supreme Court and remain unlawfully broad despite being imposed under a different statute.
The lawsuit also alleges the administration bypassed the country-specific investigations required by law before imposing the tariffs.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, challenges the new tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from those 60 trading partners that the filing says account for 99.4% of U.S. imports.
The states argue the administration is using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to preserve a broad tariff regime after earlier tariff efforts were blocked by the courts.
The case is at least the second legal challenge to the new duties. A group of small businesses previously sued the administration, making a similar argument that Trump cannot use a new legal authority to recreate tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court.
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