Just months after the Supreme Court struck down his original global tariffs, President Trump is attempting to revive them through a new legal path. The latest effort relies on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the administration to impose duties on countries it claims engage in unfair trade practices like forced labor. This move has triggered lawsuits from state officials and small businesses, who argue the administration lacks sufficient evidence and is acting on political motives.

The case will be heard by the Court of International Trade in New York, which has previously ruled against Trump’s tariff strategies twice. Another defeat could force the administration to refund billions in collected duties. Legal experts, including Sara Albrecht of the Liberty Justice Center, have criticized the repeated use of outdated statutes, vowing continued challenges.

Despite legal setbacks, Trump remains committed to using tariffs as economic leverage. The Supreme Court’s earlier ruling against the use of IEEPA for tariffs forced a refund of over $160 billion, pushing the administration to pivot to Section 301 for its third attempt.