US President Donald Trump faced legal challenges just a few hours after the latest round of global tariff measures went into effect. The Trump administration has once again been accused of abusing US trade laws to harm the interests of American businesses and consumers. These tariffs were implemented on July 24 in accordance with section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. The tax rate ranges from 10% to 12.5%, and applies to about 60 economies determined by the US to be unable to “ban and effectively implement the import ban on forced labor products.” The affected trading partners cover almost all sources of US imports. Section 301 of the Trade Act authorizes the Office of the United States Trade Representative, under the direction of the President, to take retaliatory action against foreign trade measures found to discriminate against US companies or violate America's international trade rights. Successive US administrations have often used this provision to impose trade sanctions against specific countries or trade groups. New York perfume importer Burlap & Barrel Inc. and California watch importer Collective Horology LLC have filed lawsuits in the US International Trade Court in Manhattan. The two companies accuse Trump and US officials of illegally using Section 301 to essentially replace tariff measures that had previously been overturned by the courts or had expired. In the latest lawsuit, the two companies criticized Trump for once again asserting that the executive branch has the power to unilaterally levy global tariffs. The plaintiff's agency, Liberty Justice Center, also previously challenged Trump's previous two rounds of global tariff measures.

US President Donald Trump faced legal challenges just a few hours after the latest round of global tariff measures went into effect. The Trump administration has once again been accused of abusing US trade laws to harm the interests of American businesses and consumers. These tariffs were implemented on July 24 in accordance with section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. The tax rate ranges from 10% to 12.5%, and applies to about 60 economies determined by the US to be unable to “ban and effectively implement the import ban on forced labor products.” The affected trading partners cover almost all sources of US imports. Section 301 of the Trade Act authorizes the Office of the United States Trade Representative, under the direction of the President, to take retaliatory action against foreign trade measures found to discriminate against US companies or violate America's international trade rights. Successive US administrations have often used this provision to impose trade sanctions against specific countries or trade groups. New York perfume importer Burlap & Barrel Inc. and California watch importer Collective Horology LLC have filed lawsuits in the US International Trade Court in Manhattan. The two companies accuse Trump and US officials of illegally using Section 301 to essentially replace tariff measures that had previously been overturned by courts or had expired. In the latest lawsuit, the two companies criticized Trump for once again asserting that the executive branch has the power to unilaterally levy global tariffs. The plaintiff's agency, Liberty Justice Center, also previously challenged Trump's previous two rounds of global tariff measures.