US small businesses sue Trump over forced labour tariffs

On Friday, two small businesses in the US initiated legal action against President Donald Trump's recent tariffs affecting goods from 60 trading partners. They argue that this new policy oversteps the presidential power to impose import taxes. The lawsuit, lodged in the US trade court in New York, asserts that the tariffs necessitate specific country-related evidence regarding forced labor for legal justification. Supported by a non-profit legal organization that previously won a case against earlier tariffs, the businesses claim that Trump is attempting to reinstate duties deemed illegal by the US Supreme Court. The Trump administration enacted new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on these partners, including the European Union, citing insufficient efforts to curb exports linked to forced labor. These tariffs were implemented following the expiration of a temporary 10% global tariff. Tariffs have become a key aspect of Trump's foreign policy, serving as a tool for negotiating international trade agreements.