California sues to block Trump tariffs, citing harm to farmers and manufacturers

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced at Gemperley Orchards in the Central Valley that the state is filing a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s recent tariffs, saying the administration unlawfully relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and that the tariffs are already damaging California businesses and the state budget.

The lawsuit, which Bonta described as the state’s latest legal challenge to the administration’s actions, argues the president lacks authority under IEEPA to impose the sweeping, across-the-board tariffs. “The president is yet again acting as if he’s above the law. He isn’t,” Bonta said, adding the tariffs average more than 22% and reach 45% for some goods to China.

The case matters to California because of the state’s size and trade exposure, Newsom said. He described California as the nation’s fifth-largest economy and warned the tariffs create what he called “toxic uncertainty” for exporters, manufacturers and small businesses. Newsom said the disruption will affect revenues that support state programs and that the May revision to the budget will reflect a downgraded economic outlook unless conditions change.

Local producers and supply‑chain representatives who joined the event described immediate economic strains. Farmer Christine Gemperley, whose family operates Gemperley Orchards, said almonds and other crops depend on reliable global markets and imported inputs such as irrigation equipment and fertilizers. “Because seasons determine when crops are planted and harvested, we do not have the luxury to wait years for factories to be built or supply chains to grow,” Gemperley said.

Chris Murphy, chief executive officer of Sierra Pacific Warehouse Group, told the gathered officials the state’s food and distribution industries rely on long-term, dependable trading partnerships. “The supply chain’s interconnected. There’s so many moving parts, and it’s something we all should rally around,” Murphy said.

Bonta said the suit focuses on tariffs imposed by executive order under IEEPA and that the state will ask a court to “rein in the president” and restore authority over tariffs to Congress. He cited economic figures presented at the event, including that California’s agricultural exports in 2022 approached $24 billion and that tariffs and retaliatory measures by trading partners already target California goods such as nuts and dairy.

Newsom and Bonta also noted broader market effects: officials referenced recent stock-market volatility and singled out the outsized role of capital gains and large public companies in state revenue projections. Newsom said he has been coordinating with other states and international partners and that his office has reached out to the White House.

Neither the speakers nor the materials distributed at the event specified the court where the lawsuit would be filed or the exact filing date. Newsom said the state has participated in multiple related suits and that the attorney general’s office led the legal work, naming staff members who assisted.

Next steps described at the event include immediate coordination with the attorney general’s office and outreach to trading partners and large employers; litigation timelines and court dates were not specified. Newsom said the administration will reflect economic impacts from the tariffs in the May budget revision.