Human rights activists from the United States have filed a lawsuit against Trump's tariffs on imports

The American human rights organization Liberty Justice Center has filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade, challenging the legality of the imposition of import duties by President Donald Trump. The corresponding statement was published on the organization's website on April 14.

"The lawsuit <...> highlights the unprecedented nature of the tariffs, including a global 10 percent tariff on virtually all imports, as well as additional higher tariffs targeting dozens of countries based on questionable calculations of foreign trade barriers," the statement said.

According to activists, when imposing the duties, Trump referred to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). However, this regulation gives the president authority only in the event of a state of emergency due to a threat to national security, the economy, or U.S. foreign policy.

Trump himself called the trade deficit such a threat. According to human rights activists, this "does not constitute an emergency or a threat to national security."

"No one should have the authority to impose taxes that have such extensive global economic consequences. The Constitution gives the power to set tax rates, including tariffs, to Congress, not to the president," said Jeffrey Schwab, a legal consultant for the human rights organization.

As specified in the statement, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of five private enterprises "that were seriously affected by the tariffs" imposed by Trump's decree.

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On April 17, negotiations between the United States and Japan on import duties will be held in Washington. It is specified that the Japanese Minister of Economic Recovery, Ryosei Akazawa, plans to express his opinion on the need for the United States to receive "large-scale investments from Japan" for the growth of the state's economy and the availability of jobs.

Due to the panic of citizens, on April 10, the US president postponed the introduction of mirror duties for 90 days for 75 countries. At the same time, American Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that almost 70 countries had contacted Washington with requests to negotiate tariffs.