The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal, ending a policy that California officials say harmed families and businesses nationwide.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta responded to the decision, stating, “The Trump Administration’s illegal and chaotic tariff regime has come to an end. Today, the highest court in the country has agreed with arguments put forth by California, our sister states, and the dedicated businesses that decided to fight for their livelihoods and for what was right.” He added, “While this is great news, we must not forget the chaos that sent businesses, consumers, and global economies reeling. At a time when more and more families are struggling with affordability and having trouble paying for the basics — their utilities, groceries, gas — this Administration seems intent on making it more expensive for Californians and Americans to live. California celebrates today’s tremendous win and remains committed to tackling Donald Trump’s agenda to fuel the unaffordability crisis.”
States across the country have opposed these tariffs due to their impact on affordability for millions of Americans. The tariffs affected financial markets as well as businesses and consumers globally. California was particularly impacted as it is home to one of the largest economies in the world and serves as both the top importer among U.S. states and its second-largest exporter. Projections indicated that these tariffs could cost California $25 billion and result in over 64,000 lost jobs.
Attorney General Bonta has taken multiple steps against these policies. Last year he joined Governor Newsom in filing a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s use of power regarding tariffs without congressional approval. Bonta also filed amicus briefs in cases such as Oregon v. Trump in the Court of International Trade and Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump both at the D.C. Circuit level and before the Supreme Court.
Additionally, Bonta held discussions with business leaders in San Francisco and Los Angeles about how tariffs affected various industries throughout California.
Rob Bonta leads the California Attorney General’s office, which is part of California’s executive branch according to state law (source). The office acts as chief law enforcement authority across all of California (source), working on issues including civil rights, consumer protection, economic security, environmental justice (source), transparency initiatives like publishing criminal justice data through OpenJustice (source), and public safety efforts statewide (source).
