The lawsuit disputed the legality of Trump’s executive order from February 1, not the broader set of tariffs announced on Wednesday that also target a number of US allies and trading partners around the world.

Trump’s February executive order, based on a 1977 law granting presidents sweeping powers during an economic emergency, was “unconstitutional,” said the nonprofit, New Civil Liberties Alliance, in the filing to a Florida federal court.

The 1970s law “authorizes presidents to order sanctions as a rapid response to international emergencies. It does not allow a president to impose tariffs on the American people,” argued the group.

The new far-reaching tariffs, unveiled by Trump on Wednesday, sowed panic in the markets, setting off a global stocks rout and sending oil prices to the lowest levels since December 2021.

lab/md

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