Oregon – This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case from Oregon that is spearheading a lawsuit from many states against the federal government over what they say is an unlawful use of emergency powers to impose tariffs. Oregon and eleven other states are suing the President over whether he went too far under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by putting in place wide tariffs that have made everyday items much more expensive.
Oregon Attorney General Rayfield stressed how the tariffs have affected working families, saying that they have made it tougher for many Americans to pay for basic needs.
“Sitting in that courtroom today, you could really feel what’s at stake for working families,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “Between this administration’s bad trade deals, these tariffs and their continued efforts to cut health care and SNAP benefits for Americans, they’re reshaping the American economy into one that simply doesn’t work for working people.
According to Rayfield, the tariffs—framed by the federal government as “reciprocal” trade measures—have effectively placed the financial burden on American consumers.
“The president’s attorney himself admitted that the American people – not foreign countries – are going to pay 30-80% of these tariffs. Working families are facing an affordability crisis across our nation, and the president has abused an emergency power. That’s why we’re fighting,” he said.
Read also: State of Oregon provides urgent funding to Tribes as federal shutdown disrupts SNAP benefits
The disagreement is about the IEEPA’s limits. This statute was meant to let presidents quickly deal with threats from other countries. Oregon and its coalition say that the administration exploited the law to get around Congress and set tariffs on its own, which goes against the Constitution’s division of powers.
Oregon filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade in April 2025 on behalf of twelve states, including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, and New York. The court agreed with the states and said that the tariffs were beyond what the president could do. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld that ruling in August 2025, which made the government ask the Supreme Court to look at it again.
Read also: Kotek’s trade mission promotes Oregon’s innovation, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors abroad
The case’s conclusion might create a big precedent for how far the president can go in trade policy. If Oregon wins, it will show that Congress has the constitutional power to set tariffs. If Oregon loses, the president may have more power over foreign trade.
Economists say that Oregon’s economy, which is already hurting because of the tariffs, may lose more than a billion dollars if they stay in place. Hazelnut and potato farmers, for example, have seen their expenses go up and their global markets becoming smaller. These are the industries that depend on exports the most.
Read also: Klamath Falls seeks skilled applicants to maintain and repair city wastewater systems
Attorney General Rayfield appreciated Solicitor General Benjamin Gutman for standing up for Oregon and the coalition in front of the Supreme Court.
