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25 US states challenge Trump’s new tariffs in court

ByJustpaste.in

NEW YORK: A coalition of 25 US states has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump, seeking to block a new round of tariffs imposed on imports from dozens of countries.

The legal challenge was submitted to the US Court of International Trade in New York, where the states asked the court to suspend the tariffs, declare them unlawful and order the federal government to refund businesses that have already paid the import duties.

The coalition argued that the administration exceeded its legal authority by introducing sweeping tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. According to the lawsuit, the investigations cited by the administration as justification for the tariffs were used as a pretext to impose broad trade restrictions.

The disputed tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, were introduced last month and apply to imports from 60 trading partners, covering a significant share of goods entering the United States.

The Trump administration has defended the measures, saying they are intended to address concerns related to forced labour in international supply chains and to protect American trade interests. The White House maintains that the tariffs were imposed within the government’s legal authority and remain an important tool for securing fair trade practices.

A White House spokesperson said the administration is using powers granted under US trade law to respond to what it considers unfair policies and practices affecting American commerce. Officials also argued that Section 301 tariffs have previously withstood legal scrutiny and continue to be a lawful instrument of trade policy.

The lawsuit follows earlier legal disputes over President Trump’s tariff policies. Previous tariffs introduced under emergency economic powers were struck down by the US Supreme Court earlier this year, prompting the administration to replace them with the current Section 301 measures after a temporary global tariff expired in July.

The states involved in the case contend that the latest tariffs are arbitrary and unlawful, arguing that while they support efforts to combat forced labour worldwide, such concerns cannot be used to justify what they describe as an illegal expansion of presidential tariff powers.

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    Nawaz Sharif fires warning: Politics must not beco…

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    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has called for political tolerance, saying political rivalry is a normal part of democratic politics but differences should never turn into personal or political enmity. Addressing a PML-N meeting in Murree on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif said he was surprised by the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) objections regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. He noted that the PPP had previously been in power in AJK and said the political situation that emerged during the elections was a matter of concern for all political stakeholders. Nawaz said the situation had developed because previous governments had failed to properly fulfil their responsibilities. He stressed that political parties should respect democratic differences and avoid creating an atmosphere of hostility. The PML-N president said his party had always treated its political opponents with respect. He urged all political forces to demonstrate patience and tolerance and keep political disagreements within the limits of democratic debate. Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N had secured a simple majority after the first two phases of the AJK elections. The party has won 24 seats, while the PPP has secured 10 seats in the first two phases. The third phase of the election process is yet to be completed, with final results expected after the remaining polling process. Nawaz expressed confidence that the PML-N would form the government in AJK. He said the party would work to fulfil the commitments made to voters during the election campaign. He congratulated PML-N leaders and workers on their electoral performance and appreciated their efforts during the election campaign. Nawaz Sharif called for maximum financial resources to be provided to Azad Kashmir. He said improving the lives of the people and accelerating development should remain the government’s top priority. He claimed that the people of AJK were looking towards Punjab for development and better public services. Nawaz said development work had been initiated during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure in Punjab and later expanded under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He pledged that the PML-N would seek to replicate its development model in AJK. “The way we transformed Punjab, we will transform Azad Kashmir as well,” Nawaz said, while stressing that failing to deliver on promises made to voters could result in public disappointment. The PML-N president also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team for their efforts to address Pakistan’s economic and administrative challenges. He said the government inherited an extremely difficult situation but was now working to improve the country’s overall position. According to Nawaz, economic conditions were gradually improving and efforts were underway to put Pakistan on a stronger and more sustainable footing. He said the government was also seeking to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and move the country towards greater economic self-reliance.

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