Overview

• The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) filed a lawsuit on April 3, 2025, challenging President Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports, claiming they violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
• The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Simplified, a Florida-based small business, which says the tariffs have caused significant financial harm, including increased costs and potential layoffs.
• President Trump imposed the tariffs citing a national emergency linked to fentanyl and the opioid crisis, which he attributed to China, invoking the IEEPA for the action.
• The lawsuit argues that the IEEPA, historically used for sanctions and asset freezes, does not authorize the imposition of tariffs, a power reserved for Congress.
• This legal challenge highlights constitutional concerns about separation of powers and the unprecedented use of the IEEPA in its nearly 50-year history.